Bull shark tagging

In 2023, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) expanded its shark tagging program to better understand the movement patterns of bull sharks throughout Western Australian waters.

DPIRD is researching the broad scale movement of bull sharks to understand the connectivity between animals occurring in the Kimberley region in the north, to the south-west of the state. While it is not known whether bull sharks in WA move from tropical to temperate waters and river systems, bull sharks on the east coast of Australia move long distances between tropical and temperate waters. 

DPIRD is working with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) to build on its research program that includes tagging and tracking movements of juvenile bull sharks in the Swan Canning Estuary.

Understanding the movements of bull sharks is critical to informing what shark hazard mitigation measures may prove effective and will allow government to better inform water users of the presence of bull sharks in coastal and estuarine waters.

While the tagging of bull sharks will focus on the Swan Canning Estuary from late spring through to early autumn, operations will also occur in regional areas such as the Kimberley, Gascoyne and South West regions.

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