A research project to tag and release more than 3000 sharks at multiple locations along the Queensland east coast has begun.

It will identify what commercial and recreational catch levels can be maintained while ensuring long-term sustainability of east coast shark populations.

The project is being run by the Fishing & Fisheries Research Centre (FFRC) at James Cook University and Fisheries Queensland, and is being funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation on behalf of the Australian Government.

Reporting a shark recapture

If you capture a tagged shark, call the FFRC phone number on the tag - (07) 4781 5973 - to report the recapture location. The shark does not need to be retained.

The information the project requires includes:

• tag number
• date of recapture
• location of recapture.

The location can be a general area such as Hervey Bay, though a GPS point is preferred.

The data generated through this project will go a long way to securing future certainty in the sustainable harvest of sharks from the Queensland east coast.

Report a shark recapture and win

Fishers who report this information will receive a recapture letter that includes the initial capture information as well as a free T-shirt. Two $500 gift vouchers will be awarded to two fishers through two random draws.

Each recapture a fisher reports will give that fisher a chance of winning a gift voucher. These two draws will occur on March 15 2012, and on March 15 2013.

Thanks to all those fishers who have already reported recaptured sharks. These fishers are already in the running for the first $500 gift voucher.