Grey nurse shark potential aggregation sites (NESP MaC 4.15)
This dataset describes grey nurse shark (Carcharias taurus) listed, recognised and candidate aggregation sites in Australian waters, together with supporting individual acoustic-detection summaries from monitored aggregation sites. It consolidates previously documented site-level information on known, listed and candidate aggregation areas with time-series evidence of acoustically tagged shark detections.
The project reviewed existing information on grey nurse shark aggregation sites and developed a revised definition for assessing aggregation status. Under this definition, an aggregation site is a discrete area where multiple grey nurse sharks are observed on a regular or predictable basis and where one or more behavioural functions may be inferred, including migration, resting, reproduction, feeding or undefined aggregation. The project also collected new survey and monitoring evidence from selected areas of potential grey nurse shark use, including Barwon Banks and the Hards in Queensland, Outer Gibber Reef in the Hunter Marine Park, and potential habitat in Gippsland, Victoria. These newly surveyed areas were not classified as confirmed aggregation sites as further monitoring is required to assess whether they support regular or predictable use by multiple grey nurse sharks.
The data provided by this record include:
• Aggregation-site data: a consolidated table of listed, recognised and potential grey nurse shark aggregation sites and associated information.
• Individual detection data: collated acoustic telemetry detection summaries for tagged grey nurse sharks at monitored aggregation sites.
Simple
Identification info
- Date (Creation)
- 2026-06-05
Identifier
- Title
- Information and documentation - Digital object identifier system
- Citation identifier
- ISO 26324:2012
- Code
- 10.25959/KJS4-CP51
- Codespace
- doi.org
- Description
- Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Principal investigator
Principal investigator
Principal investigator
Collaborator
- Credit
- The data collections described in this record are funded by the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) through the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub. In addition to NESP (DCCEEW) funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators.
- Status
- Completed
Point of contact
- Topic category
-
- Biota
Extent
Temporal extent
- Time period
- 2024-03-01 2025-06-30
- Maintenance and update frequency
- Not planned
- Keywords (Project)
-
- National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine and Coastal Hub
- Keywords (Theme)
-
- Marine parks
- Threatened species
- Grey nurse shark
- Keywords (Taxon)
-
- Carcharias taurus
Resource constraints
- Classification
- Unclassified
Resource constraints
- Other constraints
- This dataset is hosted by the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania, on behalf of NSW DPI and NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Project 4.15.
Resource constraints
- Linkage
-
http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/4.0/88x31.png
License Graphic
- Title
- Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
- Website
-
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License Text
- Other constraints
- Cite data as: Harasti, D., Bradford, R., Westlake, E., & Louden, B. (2026). Grey nurse shark potential aggregation sites [Dataset]. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. https://doi.org/10.25959/KJS4-CP51
Associated resource
- Title
- NESP MaC Project 4.15 - Grey nurse shark aggregations, 2024-2025 (CSIRO, NSW DPI)
Identifier
- Association Type
- Dependency
- Initiative Type
- Project
- Language
- English
- Character encoding
- UTF8
Distribution Information
- Distribution format
-
- CSV
- OnLine resource
- COLLATED DATA - Grey nurse shark potential aggregation sites
- OnLine resource
-
MaC_4_15_GNS_aggregation_sites
MAP - Grey nurse shark potential aggregation sites
- OnLine resource
-
MaC_4_15_GNS_aggregation_sites
This OCG WFS service returns the data for download in multiple formats.
- OnLine resource
-
Final Project Report
Bradford R W, Harasti D, Louden B, Westlake EL, Stephenson S, Kilpatrick C, Dwyer R, Cameron J, Wanganeen H, Sherman S, Ierodiaconou D, Travers M, Braccini M, Williams J, Newman SJ (2025). Project 4.15: Grey nurse shark aggregations. Report to the National Environmental Science Program. CSIRO Environment, Hobart, Tasmania.
- OnLine resource
-
Related Publication
Chidlow, J., Gaughan, D. and McAuley, R. 2006. Identification of Western Australian Grey Nurse Shark aggregation sites, Final Report to the Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Fisheries Research Report No. 155, Department of Fisheries, Western Australia, 48p.
- OnLine resource
-
Related Publication
Hoschke, A. M., Whisson, G. J., Haulsee, D. (2023). Population distribution, aggregation sites and seasonal occurrence of Australia’s western population of the grey nurse shark Carcharias taurus. Endangered Species Research 50: 107-123.
- OnLine resource
-
Related Publication
Otway NM and Louden BM, 2025. Occupation of aggregation sites and migratory movements of the Grey Nurse Shark (Carcharias taurus) off eastern Australia. NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Port Stephens Fisheries Institute.
Resource lineage
- Statement
- This project reviewed existing information on grey nurse shark aggregation sites and generated new field-based evidence for selected potential sites. Existing site information was compiled from previously published site records and candidate western Australian survey sites. Individual detection summaries were derived from acoustic telemetry data compiled for monitored aggregation sites. These data summarise detections of tagged grey nurse sharks by site, individual and month, and were used to support interpretation of temporal patterns in site use.
- Hierarchy level
- Dataset
Metadata
- Metadata identifier
- urn:uuid/11812b01-19f8-4126-a3f3-6e87a7b83dc2
- Language
- English
- Character encoding
- UTF8
Point of contact
Type of resource
- Resource scope
- Dataset
- Metadata linkage
-
https://metadata.imas.utas.edu.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/11812b01-19f8-4126-a3f3-6e87a7b83dc2
Point of truth URL of this metadata record
- Date info (Revision)
- 2026-06-05T18:59:58
- Date info (Creation)
- 2025-02-13T12:00:00
Metadata standard
- Title
- ISO 19115-3:2018
Overviews
Spatial extent
Provided by
IMAS Metadata Catalogue