Hundreds of sharks lie side by side on the Australian seabed

The scene of Port Jackson sharks gathering up to hundreds of children scattered all over the seabed made the researchers surprised.

Researcher Neville Barrett and colleagues encountered Port Jackson sharks during an Australian coral reef expedition, Earth Touch News reported yesterday. This shark has been recorded in the area before, but this is the first time scientists have seen hundreds of individuals gather on a ledge.

The Port Jackson sharks are at the bottom of Australia's sea.(Video: Earth Touch News).

"The most surprising thing about the scene is that the number of sharks gathering is really big. We often encounter small flocks when we dive, about 8 or so, but here there are at least hundreds of sharks, and The number may be much larger if we have a thorough survey condition , " said Barrett, a graduate student at the University of Tasmania's Institute of Marine and Antarctic Research (IMAS).

An unexpected encounter occurred during a 10-day expedition to survey the reefs in Beagle Marine Park. This 3,000-square-kilometer area is protected for a decade, but the remote location in the Bass Strait separates Tasmania from the interior of Australia, making it difficult for protected area research for many years.

Port Jackson sharks gather to avoid rough seas.(Video: YouTube).

Using an automatic underwater vehicle, the team was able to capture 3D maps of the reserve and the gathering behavior of Port Jackson sharks was just one of many interesting observations.

Large-scale gatherings of sharks are often associated with reproductive behavior, but Port Jackson sharks lay eggs off New South Wales (NSW), 965km north of Bass Strait. Between breeding seasons, animals migrate to Tasmania, although they still bring back the reef in NSW each year.

The video of sharks in Bass Strait was recorded in July, while the breeding season usually takes place from August to October. This causes Barrett to wonder if mass gathering is a sign of sharks. whether or not to start mating in the south sea.

Port Jackson sharks gather on the seabed.

"If this is not a gathering for mating, maybe the sharks might be feeding for the winter and using this reef as a shelter to help them avoid ocean currents. Large numbers help them safe from carnivores like seals that are common in the area , ' Barrett said.

Both Port Jackson sharks and females migrate yearly to spawning sites, which is very rare in the shark world. They often gather in small flocks to rest in the daytime and share shelter with familiar friends.