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Very little information exists on these species of sharks and rays in New Zealand so researchers need public support to learn more about them. Looking at the Whale and Basking sharks, these oceangoing plankton feeders can be individually identified from their unique colour patterns and scars. Data from sightings and photo ID's of these magnificent creatures will enable us to build a better picture of where they occur locally. It will also help us to identify individuals that visit New Zealand on a regular basis. We can share this information with other researchers globally to compare notes of individual sharks and rays that may be located / spotted in other regions around the globe.
If you're lucky enough to see one of these amazing creatures, it would be great if you could record the information listed in the form below. We also have a Bigfish PDF Form here that you can download and print out to take with you on your voyages as this will help you recall all the data to enter here online at a later time. We would also ask that you send us all images that you take of any shark and ray species to help with Identification.
Your Images will not be published in any other media form without your written consent. All images that you send to us here at Dive Planet as part of this identification process will be password protected in our Researchers section of Dive Planet, as well as forwarded to Clinton Duffy of the Department of Conservation and they will include your copyright as being the photographer and legal owner of the photos or video that you supply.
The objectives of the Dive Planet Research project is to determine where whale sharks, basking sharks and mobulid rays found in New Zealand including where they originate from. We aim to record white pointer (Great White Shark) sightings in New Zealand, to determine their distribution and abundance in New Zealand, as well as investigate where they go when they leave New Zealand waters. This scientific research is gained by researchers like Clinton Duffy that tags the Great White Sharks around New Zealand's coast. To learn more about Great White Shark Tagging just follow the link here within.
Code of Conduct:
- Restrict your boat speed to 6 knots (10 kph) when approaching or near individuals.
- When your vessel is closer than 10 m, put your engine in neutral to avoid disturbance and injury to animals, e.g. prop contact.
- Avoid dividing groups of animals, i.e. driving through them.
- If diving, do not attempt to touch, ride or chase animals;
- Avoid blocking their path, and maintain a distance of at least 5 m – they are big and powerful.
Whale Shark Basking Shark Manta Ray Identification Form |
| Click on the PDF Form attached here provided by Clinton Duffy and the Big Fish Project. This PDF file will give you an insight of how to Identify these Sharks and Rays. You will also find a form attached that you can print out and take with you on your adventures to record data of species that you may come across. The Second PDF file attached is the Sighting Form just like the Online form we have here below. This is another great way of being able to record all data as it happens to later fill in online. |
Spotters Form Sharks Rays  |
| Sighting Form Sharks Rays |
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Video Footage above was filmed by Paul Morris whilst participating in a Great White Shark expedition off the Gisborne Coast with Boyd of Surfit Charters
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Shark Identification Key Points |
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When you come across sharks there are various methods to ID them. With Whale Sharks they can be Identified by the markings that they have all over their body. Sharks like the White Pointer (Great White shark) can be identified by making notes and taking photos of scars on the sharks body, as well as distinctive colourings and patterns of the colourings on the shark. Below are a few photos to give you an example of some of these markings / scars.
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 Some sharks are easier to Identify than others. This shark was Identified in South Australia at the Neptune Islands by Andrew Fox of Fox Shark expeditions. This shark was named 747 due to its very distinctine upturned Pectoral fins. The Pectoral Fins are the ones you can see at the lower most part of the shark up forward. You will also notice that the Tail Fin or Caudal Fin is cut off at the base. This shark would be very noticable by researchers that may gain photos that are submitted from other parts of the globe.
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 Here we are looking at Elvis another shark with its ID name coming from Andrew Fox. As you can see photos tell so much and are so valuable to researchers for the Identity of all sharks. You can clearly see that Elvis has a distinctive scar forward of his eye as well as being placed above his nostril. Now we don't want you taking risks to get great photos like this, but all images that you send into us will go a long way to helping researchers Identify sharks and rays. This photo was taken from the safety of a cage. |
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 You will notice in our online and PDF Form we ask about the sex of the shark. This is usually very hard to tell as most Identification photos and video are taken from above the surface. However this photo I took clearly shows that the shark really is all male!! Here we can see the Claspers in full view as this photo was taken from below. Don't worry about the regulator in this photo as it was a spare one on a hooker line and there was no diver on the end of it at any stage. Other markings we would look for are the patterns on the fins, claspers, and other areas of the shark that may help in identifying him to other records from other researchers. | |
