This record provides an overview of the scope and research output of NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub Project A5 - "Defining connectivity of Australia’s hammerhead sharks". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata.

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Hammerhead sharks are the focus of conservation management through recent listing on Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS). The clear data gap for Department of the Environment and Energy (DoEE) and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is connectivity of populations across national and international jurisdictions. This project applies genetic and satellite telemetry to examine the movement and connectivity of hammerhead sharks. This will help determine use of Australian Marine Parks (AMPs) and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP), and define Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) where possible. These data will be assimilated with current research to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the status of hammerhead shark populations to inform species listing and assist management and conservation policies at national and international levels.

Planned Outputs

• A report outlining the results of genetic and movement analysis of hammerhead shark populations in northern Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea including identification of BIAs (aggregation sites) and use of CMRs where possible; revised conceptual models of stock structure and species status assessments; and a summary of Indigenous knowledge and traditional use of hammerhead sharks.

• Presentation of results to key stakeholders and end users

• Policy Brief (Research Summary for Managers) that describes project outcomes

• Manuscripts for scientific journals outlining the results of project components (eg, genetics, movement, Indigenous use and knowledge transfer)

• Presentation of recommendations at scientific conferences

• Communication of findings to the broader community via social media