The drone revolution of shark science
Naima Andrea Lopez | 21 January 2021
Cover image
Photo credit: M. Theiss, Nat Geo image collection
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CITATION
Butcher PA, Colefax AP, Gorkin III RA, Kajiura SM, López NA, Mourier J, Purcell CR, Skomal GB, Tucker JP, Walsh AJ, Williamson JE, Raoult V. 2021. The Drone Revolution of Shark Science: A Review. Drones. 2021; 5(1):8. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones5010008
HIGHLIGHTS
Our paper provides a comprehensive review of the role of drones as an emerging and important non-invasive tool for shark research and wildlife management globally.
We address the different factors to consider when planning and performing shark research using drones.
We provide in-depth illustrations of different drone research areas that have enhanced our understanding of shark behaviour, movement, and interactions.
Finally, we address the key technical challenges to this methodology for the study of sharks and the potential of this technology moving forward (sensors, artificial intelligence, underwater drones).
ABSTRACT
Over the past decade, drones have become a popular tool for wildlife management and research. Drones have shown significant value for animals that were often difficult or dangerous to study using traditional survey methods. In the past five years drone technology has become commonplace for shark research with their use above, and more recently, below the water helping to minimise knowledge gaps about these cryptic species. Drones have enhanced our understanding of shark behaviour and are critically important tools, not only due to the importance and conservation of the animals in the ecosystem, but to also help minimise dangerous encounters with humans. To provide some guidance for their future use in relation to sharks, this review provides an overview of how drones are currently used with critical context for shark monitoring. We show how drones have been used to fill knowledge gaps around fundamental shark behaviours or movements, social interactions, and predation across multiple species and scenarios. We further detail the advancement in technology across sensors, automation, and artificial intelligence that are improving our abilities in data collection and analysis and opening opportunities for shark-related beach safety. An investigation of the shark-based research potential for underwater drones (ROV/AUV) is also provided. Finally, this review provides baseline observations that have been pioneered for shark research and recommendations for how drones might be used to enhance our knowledge in the future.
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Global use of drones for shark research
Global representation of research groups using drones for shark research with (a) representation of 32 studies conducted with different drone systems, and (b) amplified view of Australia.
02
Drone choice, flight planning and data collection
Schematic illustrating the interrelated factors that researchers should consider when planning and performing shark research with drones.
03
Illustrations of shark research using drones
Representation of the types of imagery collected by drone.
FUNDING & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Acknowledgments: Thank you to the following people for their contributions to the projects encompassed in this review: Kevin Boswell, Craig Brand, Jose Carlos Castillo, Mike Heithaus, Brendan Kelaher, Kirk Gastrich, Jeremy Kiszka, Jessica Meeuwig, Guillaume Rieucau, Louise Tosetto and the many pilots and observers that made these shark projects possible.
Funding: This research was funded by multiple sources related to individual authors and their projects. These include (in alphabetical order): ARC LIEF Grant (LE170100007), Australian Government RTP Scholarship, Centre de Recherche Insulaire et Observatoire de l’Environnement (CRIOBE), Colgan Foundation, Department of Biological Science at Macquarie University, Discovery Communications, Jock Clough Marine Foundation (through the Oceans Institute Robson and Robertson Award), NSW Department of Primary Industries (through the Shark Management Strategy), Save our Seas Foundation (Small grant SOSF 283), Sci-eye, Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation (SWR/13/2018), Southern Cross University and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.