21 Mar 2011

DoC to tag sharks near Stewart Island

8:16 pm on 21 March 2011

Divers and kayakers are being told to stay away from a boat used to research great white sharks around Stewart Island.

The Department of Conservation says it will be attracting great whites with a mixture of minced fish and fish oil called berley so they can be tagged.

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The department says berley can keep attracting sharks to the area for 24 hours and researchers will use it from Tuesday until 6 April.

It says as well as showing where a shark has travelled, the tags can provide other information such as dive times, depths and water temperature.

DoC shark expert Clinton Duffy says the location of the vessel will be posted daily via local fishermen's radio to alert any divers or kayakers.