Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 1 hr ago
Young hammerhead sharks gather near Queensland beaches
Researchers used drone footage to study young scalloped hammerhead sharks near beaches in southeast Queensland, Australia.
At Burleigh Beach, groups reached 80 sharks, while the largest group at Noosa Main Beach was estimated at 100.
The team reviewed records from 20,911 drone flights at nine beaches between September 2020 and December 2024.
The biggest gatherings were seen in April, May and June, and most sharks at Burleigh and Noosa were juveniles.
These coastal areas may offer food or shelter, but researchers could not confirm that they are shark nursery grounds or explain why the sharks gather.
Scalloped hammerheads are classified globally as critically endangered, making it important to understand where young sharks spend time.
Researchers could not tell whether the same sharks returned from year to year, and they say murky water may have made some sharks harder to spot.
Both beaches are covered by Queensland’s shark-control program: Burleigh has shark nets, while Noosa has nets and baited drumlines.
Researchers recorded groups of up to 100 young scalloped hammerhead sharks near two popular beaches in southeast Queensland.
The sightings came from drone records collected at nine beaches between September 2020 and December 2024.
The largest groups appeared in April, May and June, and most sightings came from Burleigh Beach and Noosa Main Beach.
Researchers say the coastal areas may be important habitat for juvenile sharks, but they could not confirm that they are nursery grounds.
Why the sharks gather remains unclear, though the sites may offer food or shelter.
- Who
- Young scalloped hammerhead sharks and the researchers led by Maddison Cross.
- What
- Drone records showed groups of the sharks gathering in shallow coastal waters.
- When
- Researchers analyzed records from September 2020 to December 2024. The largest groups appeared in April, May and June.
- Where
- Burleigh Beach on the Gold Coast and Noosa Main Beach on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
- Why
- The reason for the gatherings remains unclear. Researchers suggest the sites may offer food or shelter.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Queensland SharkSmart drones collected records from 20,911 flights at nine beaches.
The largest hammerhead gatherings were recorded during these months.
- Maximum group at Burleigh Beach
- Up to 80 scalloped hammerhead sharks
- Maximum group at Noosa Main Beach
- An estimated 100 scalloped hammerhead sharks
- Drone flights analyzed
- 20,911
- Sightings
- 84 occasions, totaling 2,696 shark observations
- Average estimated length
- About 1.09 meters
Sources
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