Twitter users can now follow more than 300 sharks on the social network, thanks to a group of researchers from Australia's Shark Monitoring Network.
The group tagged the marine animals with acoustic transmitters, programmed to send out a tweet whenever a shark swims within a kilometre of the shore. These tags work in conjunction with various buoyed monitoring devices that pick up the toothy animal's signal when it enters a certain area.
As an example, a tweet sent earlier today reads: "4 to 5 metre White Shark sighted by surfer 100m offshore from Ricey Beach, Rottnest Island at 1pm today, 07/01/14" [sic].
Not only does the network boost public safety, the data can also be used for research purposes, according to the Western Australia Department of Fisheries. Working in real time, Shark Monitoring Network project manager, Mark Kleeman, notes the system will be able to alert beach users as soon as a tagged shark moves closer to the shore.
"Along with the satellite-linked monitors, there are approximately 320 seabed monitors located throughout Western Australia that also monitor tagged sharks, and each time that data is physically retrieved, it will help to establish a much broader snapshot for understanding shark behaviour and movement," Kleeman said.
With one of the highest incidents of fatal shark attacks in the world, it is hoped the initiative will keep Australian beachgoers a little safer.
There are plans to expand the Shark Monitoring Network initiative as part of a broader, long-term plan to improve safety at beaches across Australia.
The tweets detailing shark sightings can be found on the Surf Life Saving WA Twitter feed, which also provides followers with news and information about any happenings on beaches in the area.
Closer to home, the Shark Spotters programme provides the same information as the Australian system, except the system is not automated, requiring humans to do the physical spotting and tweeting.
Alison Kock, research manager at Shark Spotters, describes this kind of technology as the perfect means to tackle the complex relationship that exists between humans and wildlife. Kock does stress, however, that not all of the sharks in the ocean are tagged, which means initiatives like this should not provide swimmers and surfers with a false sense of security.
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