Shark and Ray Week - August 15 - 23, 2026

During National Science Week we are asking you – the incredible Citizen Scientist – to help monitor sharks, rays and sawfish, including the most threatened species, in waters around Australia. All we need you to do is submit your sighting from within this week with  a pic/video, and you could win a spot on one of our sawfish expeditions.

How does it work? (DRAFT TO BE MODIFIED)

  1. Registration opens on International Sawfish Day, October 17, 2024 and closes by midnight October 25, 2024 (AEST). Include your plans for the big day – choose one day in the week of October 26 – November 2, 2024.
    • Spotting from a boat
    • Diving / freediving
    • Fishing
    • Flying a drone
    • Walking along the shoreline
  2. Go on your adventure.
    • Record the time you’re out on / near the water – minimum 2 hours.
    • Make sure to take a photograph / video – with or without a sawfish.
    • If you do see or accidentally catch a sawfish, get a picture including the saw!
    • Remember to stay croc safe!
  1. Report back.
    • Remember – no sawfish is data! It is vital that we hear back from you even if you have not seen a sawfish.
    • To enter the prize draw you must report your activity details by midnight November 3, 2024 (AEST).
    • You MUST submit a video/ photo from the day’s activity directly from your phone, so it is time and location stamped.
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How is this different from our year-round sawfish sightings campaign?

For one week of the year, we want you to report any sighting of any shark or ray to us. If you have seen a sawfish during this week, please report it, but you can report any species of shark and ray! We do not ask you to target them – however if you catch one while fishing, we do ask that you safely release it and report your sighting. This is incredibly important to our work!

Please note that we will share sightings of manta rays with Project Manta, grey nurse sharks with Spot A Shark, whale sharks with Wildbook, etc. 

​Terms and Conditions

You are responsible for your own safety during your activity during Shark and Ray Week. You are also responsible for not breaking the law. Remember, for example, sawfish are protected in Australian waters, and cannot be targeted without a permit. Engaging in unsafe activities, like for example freediving in murky coastal crocodile habitat (yikes!) in Far North Queensland will exclude you from the prize draw.

Anybody who reports a sighting of a shark, ray or sawfish that happened during Shark and Ray Week, will go in the draw for our prizes. Sightings have to be submitted by August 30, 2026, at midnight AEST. You can make only one submission per animal, so if you and your mates are going on the boat together, make sure you engage in different activities, e.g. one person flying a drone, one person fishing.

Prizes include:

  • 10 neoprene sunnies straps and stickers
  • 3 Sawfish Spotter T-shirts
  • 1 participation on one of our upcoming expeditions in 2027*

*Our field expeditions are a once in a lifetime chance, but are physically demanding. You must be physically fit to participate. Our normal booking terms and conditions apply. Participation in an expedition cannot be exchanged for money, and cancellation within 40 days of the expedition forfeits your participation.

Prizes are transferrable. We are more than happy to send the prize to a friend or family member who shares your passion for the environment. Please get in touch if you have any questions.

 

Shark & Ray Sighting Week form