If you usually dive or snorkel in NSW during winter-spring months, you have probably seen Port Jackson sharks before.
Keep your eyes peeled if you see them again and let us know where!
You can do that by filling in this form.
They are very easy to identify thanks to their distinguishing black harness-like markings and blunt head with prominent forehead ridges. Take a look at our photos to be sure what they look like.
The Port Jackson shark, Heterodontus portusjacksoni, is a medium-sized shark species endemic to the coastal waters of southern Australia. During the austral winter–spring season, the adults move onto shallow rocky reefs along the east coast of New South Wales to mate. From late October to early July, they migrate to unkown locations.
Using acoustic tags, we have seen that Port Jackson sharks in Jervis Bay repeatedly return to the same reefs during their mating season and between consecutive years.
But how about Sydney?
Our plan is to find PJ agregation sites in Sydney and tag them with acoustic tags to find out.
If you want to know more about this project or about our lab, check out PJ tagging and PJs @ Taronga Zoo.