Scientists in Australia join global study on threats to sharks

Australian scientists are joining a global study seeking to determine shark populations in reef systems.

The three-year study will compile underwater video from 400 world-wide sites, including the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland and the Ningaloo Reef off the West Australian coast.

Dr Mark Meekan from the Australian Institute of Marine Science told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Wednesday that the data would provide a better international understanding of how threatened sharks are.

"We know that sharks are in trouble, we just don't know how much trouble they are in," he said.

"Booming markets for shark fin around the world means sharks are declining in abundance."

Meekan said the survey would also give authorities ideas on how to protect the marine animal.

"What we'd like to know is what are the places where sharks are intact, how do we preserve those places and what are we doing right in terms of management in terms of people that are actually preserving populations," he said.

One aim of the study is to find out how reefs work without the predators living in them.

Aquarist Laura Colton said the data could help efforts to save shark species facing extinction.

"When you have the data to back it up, it's much easier to show what you're talking about, [it] does have that importance to it," she said.

The research will also seek to change public perceptions around sharks to educate the public about the importance of sharks to the ocean ecosystem.

There has been recent spate of shark attacks in Australia, sparking debate between those who want to cull them to a limited degree, and others who insist they must be left alone in their own environment. Endi