Grey Nurse Shark Essay

Introduction
The grey nurse shark belongs to the Odontaspididae family and inhabits the marine ecosystem. The grey nurse shark is a keystone species, meaning it’s a species which plays a crucial role in the way an ecosystem functions, without a keystone species, an ecosystem would be dramatically different (National Geographic. 2016). As the Grey Nurse Shark is an endangered keystone species applications and limitations are required through scientific knowledge and understanding to develop solutions to enhance the total population of the species. As a human endeavour an attempt to get this species to breed more efficiently so it can create more offspring and help prevent the endangerment of this species the introduction of organised breed

The Grey Nurse Shark was the first ever shark in the world to be protected; conducted by the New South Wales government the species is seen as protected in 1984, but within a quick 16 years from 1984 to 2000 the classification went from “protected species” to “Critically Endangered” (Australian Government. 2015). The cause of this protection include the hunting of the shark, global warning and attempted relocation of the animal. The grey nurse shark’s population is extremely low as there are thought to be only 1000 left off the east coast of Australia, no doubt that humans have played a role in this. During the 19th century hunting this shark was legal as their liver oil was used to fuel lamps and lanterns. The grey nurse shark isn’t typically aggressive and because of this it then became a prime target for spear fishing competitions, which occurred during the 1950s to 70s which nearly caused the extinction of the shark (Queensland Government, 2012). The Grey Nurse Shark was also hunted for its unique skin as it makes high quality leather, the shark has also been caught for recreational fishing and eating. Humans have also effected the shark’s population drop through the employment of shark nets which are deemed to protect humans but are really hurting animals. In the relocation process, most sharks either die from stress or starvation before they

The Grey Nurse Shark has the slowest breeding rate compared to any other shark as it only breeds once every two years. Mating only occurs during autumn and the young are born in the winter during a 9-12-month gestation period. As only two sharks can be produced in one litter one in each uterus it causes the more fully developed embryos to eat the less developed embryos (Australian Government. 2015). Because of this unusual breeding style, the Grey Nurse has nearly reached extinction, but using scientific knowledge it can be applied to enhance the chance of breeding. Much like the situation the two Panda Bear’s in the Adelaide Zoo are set up, Grey Nurse Sharks should be as well, introduced during Autumn in the hope that they will produce offspring by