Issue 11, March 2010

VEMCO VR4-Global Prototype Receivers Deployed Off Western Australian Beaches

A research group in Australia recently deployed 20 VR4-Global prototype receivers to complement an existing network of deployed VEMCO receivers to collect information on the movements and behaviour of white sharks in the region. (Note that the mooring technique shown in the photo was custom designed for AATAMS by Australian Commercial Marine (ACM) of Perth.)

The VR4-Global uses the same proven receiver technology as the VR2W with the addition of an Iridium Satellite Modem for remote access to detection data. This surface-based receiver can be configured for daily, weekly or monthly uploads.

A network of 38 VEMCO receivers, including the VR4-Global receivers, has been deployed off the Perth coastline, in conjunction with a program to tag up to 100 white sharks with VEMCO transmitters. Data from tagged sharks collected by this network of listening stations will help to identify when, where and for how long white sharks visit that area's beaches.

The Australian Acoustic Tracking and Monitoring System (AATAMS) along with the Ocean Tracking Network (OTN), have over 1000 receivers deployed around the coast of Australia. Although the AATAMS and OTN array has been deployed to monitor all sorts of marine species, these receivers are compatible with the shark tags and will increase the amount of data that will be collected from tagged white sharks.

The VR4-Global project aims to ultimately improve scientific understanding of the risk that this species poses to people entering the water off the metropolitan coast near Perth, Western Australia.

In addition, the VR4-Global receivers are being trialed to investigate whether they can provide timely alerts of tagged sharks' presence close to beaches.

If a tagged shark comes within the range of the VR4-Global, an email or text message is sent to a network of Australian government authorities, community groups and local councils responsible for implementing Western Australia's Shark Incident Emergency Response Plan, notifying them of that shark's detection. Those groups can then take appropriate steps to minimize any risks posed by that shark.

It is hoped that this pilot project will add to existing strategies such as helicopter patrols and shore-based beach monitoring currently employed in Western Australian to deal with shark hazards.