Biopixel Oceans Foundation Limited

Biopixel Oceans Foundation continued conducting shark research around general movements and the impact of human and shark interaction for shark conservation and public safety. The program has been running since 2018 in the Whitsundays and 2021 at North West Island Capricorn Bunker group. Knowledge has been used to inform water users of shark behaviour (e.g. complementing Fisheries Queensland Shark Smart program) so they can make informed choices of when and how they undertake marine activities. A similar study addressing crocodilehuman conflict was also undertaken to test methods of tracking crocodile movements that can inform management and human safety. The Foundation undertook our fourth expedition to the remote far northern region of the Great Barrier Reef to study whale sharks and manta rays. Building on our previous work finding the first whale shark aggregation on the east coast of Australia and the 2nd most important Omura whale aggregation in the world. The data has been used in three scientific papers quantifying threats such as boat strikes and climate change to these protected species. Population studies of bull and tiger sharks on the east coast of Australia continued. Under our lifeboat species banner, research assessing the heath of species threatened internationally and believed to be healthy populations in Australia was conducted. This includes collecting data on population status and essential habitats for 20 species of shark and rays. Through the large scale animal movement program BOF have electronically tagged <1000 animals and manage the largest QLD array ever deployed in Queensland. BOF is also partnering with Queensland Fisheries, James Cook University and the University of Central Queensland, game fishing clubs providing research to manage key commercial fishery species, such as black jewfish Protonibea diacanthaus and mud crabs and recreational fished species e.g. sailfish and dolphlinfish. The research on jewfish provided the knowledge to implement the first fisheries management strategy for the species. These activities helped the Foundation achieve its aim of supporting the protection and enhancement of our oceans through fostering a better understanding of shark behaviour and providing a data driven basis for determining shark policy. The continued whale shark and Omura s whale shark work continues to provide key findings for both management in Australia and internationally. The Foundation shares live movement information of sharks to our public available biotracker https://biotracker.tv/. A documentary on our tiger shark work was shown on National Geographic and Disney this year. Biopixel. BOF started working with Traditional owner groups this year training them in scientific methods for understanding food we ecology and tracking totem species. These public outputs support the Foundation's aim to foster education and a better understanding of the need for environmental protection and preservation.