By day, Duncan Heuer manages software. By night, he dons his scuba gear and transforms into a champion for a very specific resident of Bondi Beach: “Norman,” the Grey Nurse Shark.
Norman isn’t one particular shark, but rather the affectionate nickname Mr Heuer and fellow divers have given to the critically endangered grey nurse sharks they encounter regularly at Bondi. Their population is dwindling, and Mr Heuer is determined to make a difference.
Mr Heuer was among hundreds of divers who participated in a historic “harmonised citizen census” on the 23rd of March 2024. This first-of-its-kind effort saw divers at 67 locations, from Queensland to NSW, count grey nurse sharks on the same day. The results weren’t encouraging: 243 sharks were spotted, down from 249 the year before.
At Bondi, Mr Heuer, his partner, and another diver counted eight Normans. It’s a personal mission for Mr Heuer. In 2021, he co-founded “Saving Norman,” a local campaign raising awareness about the threat shark nets pose to these gentle giants.
Photo Credit: Facebook/ DuncanHeuer
“We discovered this aggregation site of grey nurse sharks at Bondi, right before nets were deployed for whale season,” explains Mr Heuer. “Shark nets are a huge danger to these animals and other marine life. We had to act.”
Spearheaded by retired sea captain Gordon Scott and diving legend Valerie Taylor, the census aims to track grey nurse populations every three months. Increased mortality due to commercial fishing, recreational fishing, shark nets, and even sewage pollution is “very concerning,” says Scott.
Photo Credit: Website / Aussie Bubbles
“Grey nurse sharks are critically endangered; the next step is extinction,” he warns. “We need to act now, or we risk losing these magnificent creatures forever.”
Mr Heuer, with his passion for Norman and all his grey nurse brethren, is determined not to let that happen.
Published Date 16-April-2024
