Queensland invests millions in shark research. New project to improve human safety and ocean protection

The Australian state of Queensland has launched a new research program worth 2.4 million Australian dollars, aimed at better understanding shark populations and behavior. The project is expected to provide the most detailed scientific data to date on the most significant species living along Australia's eastern coast and help create more effective measures for the safety of beach visitors.

The research will be led by prominent Australian scientists and will proceed in two stages. The first phase will focus on the biological characteristics of species such as the bull shark or the tiger shark. Using DNA analysis, experts will examine the genetic diversity of populations, their reproduction, and how fishing and other human activities have affected them in the past.

The second part of the project, planned until 2028, will use satellite and acoustic tracking of tagged individuals. Thanks to modern technologies, scientists will map migration routes, determine breeding areas, and better understand the movement of sharks along the Australian coast. The research will also include isotopic analyses, which will help reveal kinship relationships between individual sharks.

According to the Australian government, the main goal of the project is to make decisions based on scientific knowledge, not assumptions. The new data should help streamline the bather protection program while also better protecting sharks themselves and marine ecosystems. The research will build upon already utilized technologies, such as drones, acoustic buoys, and other systems for early detection of sharks near beaches.

The project is considered one of the most significant of its kind in Australia. Experts believe that the knowledge gained will not only help increase the safety of people in the water but also better understand the lives of sharks and support their long-term protection. The results of the first phase of research are expected in early 2027.

Author: Miri Svobodová

Source: Queensland Government, Courier Mail, Mirage News