Scientists and school pupils want the sharp eyes of locals to spot as many sharks as possible this summer, for Shark Spy, the first detailed scientific study of its kind on sharks in the region.
"The health of our oceans is going to be ever more important in the future, and sharks are a very important part of that," project
"In our world here in Dunedin it would be good for the sightings to be collected," he said.
He hoped that as Otago coastal waters warmed up this summer, more sightings would be reported.
The study — by the University of Otago’s New Zealand Marine Studies Centre — involves both the public and about 150 pupils from five Dunedin schools going out on monthly boat trips to spot sharks and egg cases and gather information.
It would be the first systematic scientific study of sharks to be undertaken in Otago, apart from the gathering of fisheries data.
Mr Lewis said several shark species appeared along the coast at different times of the year, but the baseline information for many of them was missing.
Mr Lewis, who is an educator and aquarist at the marine studies centre, recently completed an Otago master of science degree on sevengill sharks.
The centre was encouraging boat users, surf life-savers and all water sports enthusiasts to take photos of any sharks they saw this summer, so the information could be recorded.
Scientists were also keen to know why there were many "unusual behaviours" involving several shark species in the Otago area, Mr Lewis said.
Blue sharks appeared to be basking on the surface close to shore in Otago, but were usually found a long way off shore in other parts of the world.
Thresher sharks also appeared near the Otago shoreline, whereas elsewhere they were more commonly open-ocean dwellers.
Members of the public were asked to upload relevant photos to the iNaturalist internet site and note the season and any other identifying information such as size or gender; or to send information directly to: shark.spy.otago@gmail.com via the internet.
Shark Spy is supported by a $19,974 Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) "Curious Minds" funding grant, administered by the Otago Museum through the Otago Participatory Science Platform.
