Discovery of an important aggregation area for endangered scalloped hammerhead sharks, Sphyrna lewini, in the Rewa River estuary, Fiji Islands
Kelly T. Brown A E , Johnson Seeto A D , Monal M. Lal B and Cara E. Miller C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Marine Studies, Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment, The University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Laucala Bay Road, Suva, Fiji Islands.
B Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture and College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Angus Smith Drive, Douglas, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.
C School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment, The University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Laucala Bay Road, Suva, Fiji Islands.
D Deceased.
E Corresponding author. Email: kellytjbrown@gmail.com.
Pacific Conservation Biology 22(3) 242-248 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC14930
Submitted: 10 November 2015 Accepted: 29 January 2016 Published: 22 April 2016
Abstract
The scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini, is endangered throughout its global distribution. Management and protection of this species is challenging in many locations because of limited scientific data and the vulnerable life-history traits of the species. Our study investigated anecdotal evidence that the Rewa River estuary in Fiji serves as an important nursery area for this shark. Research findings indicated that the average length of both males (60.6 ± 6.78 cm, n = 31) and females (60.4 ± 6.85 cm, n = 51) was well within published size limits of juvenile S. lewini studied in other locations (range = 38.0–89.5 cm). On the basis of published reference points for umbilical scar status we postulate that the first captured juveniles were born in January of the study year. Stomach content analysis found the following prey items: Decapoda (represented by prawns and shrimps), Stomatopoda, anguilliformes and osteichthyes. Decapods were the most numerous prey item by both count (59.17% of total prey items) and weight (60.25% of total weight). Our study provides strong support that the Rewa River estuary is an important aggregation area for S. lewini in Fiji.
Additional keywords: diet, index of relative importance, nursery, umbilical scar.
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