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The Great Shark Snapshot – the Shark Trust’s citizen science initiative that invites divers and snorkellers from around the world to record the sharks and rays that they encounter – will return for 2023 between the 22 and 30 July.
Information about the species and numbers of sharks and rays that participants find during the week will be added to the Shark Trust’s Shark Log, a global shark census that will, over time, allow shark scientists to build a picture of species distribution and any changes that occur within them.
Sharks are threatened by destructive fishing, climate change and habitat loss – the data collected during the Great Shark Snapshot will help scientists put effective conservation plans in place.
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Dive clubs, centres, and liveaboards can sign up to show support for the event and advertise planned events on the Great Shark Snapshot registration page. Divers looking to join an event will be able to use the map to find Great Shark Snapshot dives taking place near them.
Caroline Robertson-Brown, Marketing Coordinator at the Shark Trust, said: ‘It was wonderful to see so many divers take part in our first event last year. What is even better is seeing those dive centres and liveaboards returning to take part again this year, along with many more signing up for the first time.’
With the event still 2 months away, dive centres and liveaboards from more than 20 countries from all corners of the globe have already signed up to take part, from Palau to Costa Rica and the UK to Australia.
All that is required to participate during the Great Shark Snaphost 2023 is to be diving or snorkelling between 22 and 30 July, and record every shark, ray and skate encounter witnessed by the group, preferably with photographs or video footage to match. Sightings can be recorded on the Shark Trust Shark Log website, or through the Shark Trust app.
In order to assist with the identification of the various species of shark, ray and skate that may be encountered, The Shark Trust has produced some handy ID guides for reference:
Find out more at: www.sharktrust.org/snapshot
