Shark depredation in Australian fisheries: Understanding the scope of the issue and identify potential mitigation options

Shark depredation, where a shark consumes an animal caught by fishing gear before it can be retrieved to the fishing vessel, occurs in commercial and recreational fisheries worldwide. While shark depredation of catches in Australia has been nationally acknowledged as an issue for all stakeholders, much of the information is anecdotal and there is a lack of clarity on where efforts need to be prioritised to find possible solutions. This project aims to define the characteristics of the shark species and populations involved, identify the relevant traits of the fisheries, and assess the potential impacts of shark depredation, from economic, ecological, stock assessment and social perspectives. The FRDC will facilitate up to two national workshops to understand the scope of depredation and approaches to mitigate and manage this source of mortality.