SEA WORLD RESCUES GREY NURSE SHARK!
In an Australian first, the Sea World Rescue team have removed a large, one metre gaff hook from a critically endangered Grey Nurse Shark at Julian Rocks, 2.5 kilometres off Byron Bay.
The rescue team were alerted to the distressed three metre, mature female shark on Monday by local dive operators and New South Wales Marine Parks and the Department of Primary Industries, who also assisted in the rescue.
Sea World Director of Marine Sciences, Trevor Long said that the rescue team had grave concerns for the health of the shark, given the size of the gaff hook lodged in its mouth.
Sea World sent a rescue team to the popular dive site, and with the assistance of local dive operators, quickly located the shark in about 15 metres of water, with eight other Grey Nurse sharks.
“The rescue team were able to rope noose the injured shark and tire her out, allowing them to place her in a specially designed Perspex tube” he said.
The shark was then brought aboard Sea World One and placed in a 4000 litre tank using a crane, with the rescue team then turning the shark on her back, placing her in a dormant state.
“When the shark was in a relaxed state, we inserted a large PVC pipe into her mouth and conducted a delicate procedure to remove the gaff hook, which was lodged in her oesophagus” he said.
“Following the removal of the large hook, the shark was administered a dose of broad spectrum antibiotics and tagged with a special tracking device which will remain with the shark for 90 days, and allow the team to collect data from her movements during this period” Mr. Long said.
Mr Long said that the shark was then released and observed swimming strongly to rejoin its original school, and the rescue team very extremely happy with this result.
The Sea World rescue team has seen many seriously injured sharks over the years and is hopeful this shark will be able to make a full recovery.
The Grey Nurse Shark is on the critically endangered list, with less than 500 individuals estimated to still be living along the east coast of Australia.
Grey Nurse Sharks have very low reproductive rates, only breeding about every three years, and giving birth to only one or two pups at a time.
