'Mini Nemo' returns

‘Mini Nemo’ returns

The Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) in Gansbaai is thrilled to announce the successful deployment of an acoustic transmitter onto one of Gansbaai’s most iconic white sharks. Known as ‘Mini Nemo’, the shark was first logged as a young 2.5m male by the crew of Marine Dynamics in 2013 and, according to marine biologist Alison Towner, “it was simply incredible to see him grow over the years, returning as a healthy 4m adult”.

Since his first observation was logged, Mini Nemo has been seen visiting the area one to three times a year and is identified using the trailing edge of his dorsal fin, a unique feature to each white shark, as well as the many small notches and bumps, most likely caused by parasite attachment. The stunted nature of his right pectoral fin also allows for easy identification.

Mini Nemo was named after the animated Disney movie character Nemo, a clown fish with a similar stunted pectoral fin. (DICT is also monitoring two larger females with similar fins named Nemo and Big Nemo.) The newly re-named ‘Not so Mini Nemo’ arrived back in the area on Saturday 13 February and was first spotted by Sharklady Adventures.

According to Kim (Sharklady) Maclean they took two trips out from Hermanus with local tourists and were very excited to come across three great whites that day, a rare sighting indeed since these sharks started moving out of the area and staying away for longer periods of time.

Click on the newspaper below to read more (see page 5).