AussieByron
Contributor
Last week while diving my local dive site of Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, Australia we came accross a Grey Nurse Shark (GNS) which looked like it had a broken jaw and alot of fishing gear inside it. It looked like it has been feeding for sometime.
The GNS here in Australia is the same species as the Sandtiger in USA and Raggytooth in South Africa. Unfortunately due to heavy spearfishing/fishing 30-40years ago and the slow reproductive rate of the shark the numbers on the East Coast of Australia have been reduced to what some say around 400-500 animals.
This decline made the GNS the first ever shark to recieve government protection and has been classed as a Critically endangered species.
Last friday I had the chance to dive with my Camera with the goal to capture some images of this animal. The conditions were poor with Vis around the 3-4m mark. Not the best for shooting ultra wide angle (10mm). But I was very lucky with my results:
Showing the poor condition of the animal
The Video mode on the D90 worked well:
20090911 413 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
After I took these pics I contacted Sea World here in Australia which is about an hours drive away. Emailed the pics and video to them and to Department of Primary Industries (Government) to get the approval for Sea World to perform a rescue. As the Animal is classed as a Critically endangered species there would be alot of paper work and government approval before anything to be done.
Tuesday morning Sea World arrived at Julian Rocks and the search for the animal started. After a couple of attempts the rescue was aborted as there was too much current and the visabilty was 3-4m.
Wednesday morning was a success as my dive buddy Tatiana and I located the shark with our local knowledge and alot of searching and lead the Rescue team to the animal.
The animal was captured and brought onboard the Sea World boat for treatment.
Here are few pics of the event:
GNS in the lifting harness placed in the holding tank.
Trevor Long from Sea World putting the GNS in "Tonic"
Tatiana with a big smile for helping one of her sharks
Yours Truely holding the GNS to get oxygen enriched water flowing through (Nitrox for fish)
The Animal was taken back to Sea World for test and treatment. At least it has a chance for survival which it didn't in the wild.
It shows you how powerful a picture can be and how it also can be used as a tool to get things done. In this case save a endangered species from certain death.
Regards Mark
ps more pictures are on my flickr site, see link below
The GNS here in Australia is the same species as the Sandtiger in USA and Raggytooth in South Africa. Unfortunately due to heavy spearfishing/fishing 30-40years ago and the slow reproductive rate of the shark the numbers on the East Coast of Australia have been reduced to what some say around 400-500 animals.
This decline made the GNS the first ever shark to recieve government protection and has been classed as a Critically endangered species.
Last friday I had the chance to dive with my Camera with the goal to capture some images of this animal. The conditions were poor with Vis around the 3-4m mark. Not the best for shooting ultra wide angle (10mm). But I was very lucky with my results:
Showing the poor condition of the animal
The Video mode on the D90 worked well:
20090911 413 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
After I took these pics I contacted Sea World here in Australia which is about an hours drive away. Emailed the pics and video to them and to Department of Primary Industries (Government) to get the approval for Sea World to perform a rescue. As the Animal is classed as a Critically endangered species there would be alot of paper work and government approval before anything to be done.
Tuesday morning Sea World arrived at Julian Rocks and the search for the animal started. After a couple of attempts the rescue was aborted as there was too much current and the visabilty was 3-4m.
Wednesday morning was a success as my dive buddy Tatiana and I located the shark with our local knowledge and alot of searching and lead the Rescue team to the animal.
The animal was captured and brought onboard the Sea World boat for treatment.
Here are few pics of the event:
GNS in the lifting harness placed in the holding tank.
Trevor Long from Sea World putting the GNS in "Tonic"
Tatiana with a big smile for helping one of her sharks
Yours Truely holding the GNS to get oxygen enriched water flowing through (Nitrox for fish)
The Animal was taken back to Sea World for test and treatment. At least it has a chance for survival which it didn't in the wild.
It shows you how powerful a picture can be and how it also can be used as a tool to get things done. In this case save a endangered species from certain death.
Regards Mark
ps more pictures are on my flickr site, see link below
