Grey nurse, goblin, mako and great white are among your top theories of what type of shark was found on Seven Mile Beach recently.
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The body of the two-metre shark, which has kept beachgoers on their toes and anglers guessing as to what species it is, has now been revealed by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
“The shark in the picture is a grey nurse shark with the teeth, dental formula, and the size and position of the fins providing confirmation,” a spokesperson for the DPI said.
“DPI has not examined the shark to determine cause of death, but it may have been due to an accidental capture.”
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ABOUT GREYNURSE SHARKS
Grey nurse Sharks are known as a passive species and are not a threat to divers or swimmers unless deliberately provoked.
Their awl-like teeth are designed for capturing prey such as fish, small sharks and rays which are generally swallowed whole.
Ongoing research by DPI has shown that their diet comprises a range of species that are found off sandy beaches and rocky reefs along the entire NSW coastline and throughout the year.
It is not uncommon to observe grey nurse sharks off beaches, as acoustic and satellite tagging studies have shown that they undergo extensive northerly and southerly migrations at various times of the year.
In NSW, they are listed as critically endangered in the Fisheries Management Act 1994.
The presence of sharks suggests that the ocean is in a healthy balanced state.
DPI encourages all beachgoers to be SharkSmart when entering the ocean or estuarine environments and download our SharkSmart app and follow us on Twitter to get the latest information.
SHARKSMART TIPS FOR SWIMMERS AND SURFERS
- Tell an on-duty lifesaver or lifeguard if a shark is spotted near swimmers or surfers.
- Don't swim too far from shore.
- Swim in groups.
- Avoid swimming and surfing when it's dark or during twilight hours.
- Avoid murky water, waters with known effluents or sewage.
- Avoid areas used by recreational or commercial fishers.
- Avoid areas with signs of baitfish or fish feeding activity; diving seabirds are a good indicator of fish activity.
- Do not rely on sightings of dolphins to indicate the absence of sharks; both often feed together on the same food.
The NSW Government’s $16 million Shark Management Strategy is trialling new and emerging technologies to improve shark surveillance, detection and deterrents - as well as funding science, research, education and community awareness. The strategy currently includes: Drone trials, aerial surveillance, SMART Drumlines, tagging program (more than 100 sharks have been tagged by DPI), new technology grants and observation towers.
OUR READER’S POLL RESULTS
The results from our online poll found from 349 votes, 37.5 per cent of voters believed it was a goblin shark, 31.8 per cent thought it was a grey nurse, 12.6 per cent identified it as a mako shark, 11.4 per cent understood it to be a great white, while 6.5 per cent made suggestions from bronze whaler to tiger shark and everything in between.