61recorded and underestimated landing
data, the species has undergone
significant declines in abundance over
many parts of its range, resulting in
an IUCN listing of globally vulnerable
to extinction.
Now, in the northeastern waters of
New Zealand, on a calm summer’s day,
22°C water waits for us. Chum drifting
through the sea, dorsal fins of five
two-to-three metre female mako sharks
surround the boat, and of course, no
cage for us – only a vast amount of
on- and in-water experience, plus a
healthy dollop of respect, sees us slip
into their world.
The sharks are here in high
numbers between November and April,
at the tail end of their seasonal great
migration, following a vast array ofNEW ZEALANDPOOR KNIGHTS
ISLANDSpelagic predators, prey and warm
water are pushed south from the
tropical Polynesian Islands by the East
Australian Current. Where this warm
mass collides with the cold temperate
waters of New Zealand, masses of
phytoplankton, krill and bait fish
spawn, generating a prolific food chain
response that sees this area of the
world light up.