NESP MaC Project 5.7: Australian White Shark Genetics and Tracking Data

NESP Marine and Coastal Hub research provides updated knowledge on Australian white sharks, a Vulnerable and Migratory species. The project combined genetic analyses of approximately 1,000 tissue samples with satellite tracking data from PAT tags to assess population structure, movement, and critical habitats. Outputs include new genetic sequencing data, tracking datasets, and a final technical report supporting conservation planning.

Use Cases

• Estimate adult shark abundance and population trends based on close-kin mark-recapture (CKMR) genetic methods described.
• Analyze movement patterns and habitat use for large adult females and juvenile sharks using PAT tag tracking data.
• Assess genetic stock structure and connectivity between eastern and south-western Australian shark populations.
• Identify potential nursery and pupping areas to inform critical habitat designation and recovery planning.

Strengths

• Genetic analysis incorporates approximately 1,000 tissue samples from New South Wales plus additional samples from South Australia and Western Australia.
• Project integrates multiple data types: genetic sequencing, satellite tracking from PAT tags, and juvenile abundance data from a management program.
• Research directly supports white shark recovery planning and monitoring design under Australia's EPBC Act 1999.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for specific modeling tasks.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality and completeness require manual inspection of the child records.

Provenance

Source

NESP Marine and Coastal Hub project involving CSIRO, NSW DPI, SARDI, DPIRD, and Flinders University.

Collection Method

Combined pilot tagging studies, genetic analyses, and close-kin mark-recapture (CKMR) population assessment.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-04 19:17:45.998580; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Australian waters, with genetic samples also possibly from South Africa and New Zealand.