Pregnant sharks on the move in Qld waters
Marine rangers estimate more than 50 pregnant grey nurse sharks are congregating in waters north of Noosa at what is considered a vital site for the survival of the endangered species.
Wolf Rock, a collection of four volcanic pinnacles near Double Island point in the Great Sandy Marine Park, is the only known gestation site for the east coast grey nurse shark population, senior conservation officer Carley Kilpatrick says.
"The east coast population of grey nurse sharks is thought to number less than 2000 individuals, and the species is listed as endangered in Queensland," Dr Kilpatrick said.
"The mature females have been at Wolf Rock for almost a year, and they're expected to depart any day now for their pupping waters in New South Wales waters to give birth."
Once they give birth, the sharks are expected to rest for two to three years before returning to Wolf Rock to breed again.
"The dive team also recorded a few mature male sharks who will now wait patiently for the arrival of a new group of females from NSW waters for the next mating season," Dr Kilpatrick said.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service conducts regular monitoring programs at Wolf Rock by using visual counts, photo-identification and "acoustic telemetry" work.
"Our tagged sharks are providing some really great intel about how they use these important sites as well," Dr Kilpatrick said.
Female grey nurse sharks reach sexual maturity at nine-to-10 years, and have a gestation period of about 12 months.
There are four designated grey nurse shark areas in Queensland; three in Moreton Bay Marine Park as well as Wolf Rock.
Grey nurse sharks can reach more than three metres in length and live as long as 40 years.
Their diet typically consists of fish, smaller sharks , stingrays and crustaceans, and they are generally not considered aggressive.
Grey nurse sharks are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the Commonwealth government.
