Shark sightings are on the rise this summer, but its population is dwindling worldwide – and experts say more needs to be done to save them.
Shark scientist Dr Riley Elliot said advances in technology had led to more eyes on the water, giving the appearance of a booming population.
There have been shark sightings reported in Christchurch, Auckland and Whangārei this summer – but those observations hide a stark reality.
"Sadly, scientifically, we only have 30% of the world's sharks left than we did 50 years ago," Elliot said.
He said New Zealand marine reserves weren't doing enough to help them thrive.
"Destructive fishing methods, sedimentation, over-harvesting of fish populations – those issues are not protected within marine reserves, nor are the sharks or animals that travel entire oceans."
Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones disagreed, adding that "our fishery system is the envy of the world".
"We have a [Quality Management System] and 87% of our fisheries are extraordinarily well managed."
Last year, Elliot and his crew spent four weeks tagging 15 great white sharks around Stewart Island to learn more about their movements.
The citizen-funded project focused on one of the last great white aggregation spots, which has been diminishing globally in the face of climate and fishing pressures.
Some of the tagged sharks migrated north, while others headed to Tonga, New Caledonia, Fiji and eastern Australia.
With support from iwi and the Department of Conservation, Elliot will be tagging 30 sharks more this summer to learn more about population estimates and tracking of habitat.
"What we're learning from them is that they need support because there are only a couple hundred mating adults in this entire population of the South Pacific," Elliot said.
Elliot added that counterintuitively, fewer sharks mean fewer fish.
"The sharks are doctors and garbageman of the sea and they've been doing it for 400 million years."
With the depletion of both species, he said, Kiwis should look at shifting priorities to sustainability for our future rather than profitability now.
"The majority of New Zealanders do not benefit from a few companies profiting.
"What we want is to go out there with our family, catch a feed, enjoy the ocean, see wildlife, entertain our kids and ensure they've got that going into the future."
Elliot said there was one simple way to do our part: "When you go to a restaurant, ask them has this been line caught or has it been trawled."
For Kiwis who do encounter sharks this summer, marine biologist Clinton Duffy said it was a matter of size.
"The rule of thumb is anything around your size or bigger – so 1.8m or longer – could be potentially dangerous," he said.
"The best idea is to get quietly out of the water as quickly as you can."
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