Sharks tagged to send texts to lifeguards

Sharks have been inadvertently giving up their whereabouts and could soon be warning beachgoers of their presence - through text messaging.

A new tagging technology system in Perth has seen up to 74 sharks tagged as part of a project developed to understand shark behaviour, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

A text message or email is sent every time a tagged shark swims into a specific vicinity.

Developed by Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the project looks to help scientists as well as authorities.

A new iridium satellite modem listening station allows for a faster tracking system.

As the tagged shark swims within 500m of the station, a text message or an email is sent in about one to two minutes.

There are several existing conventional listening stations scattered throughout Australia's coastlines but these can only put out alerts weeks after a shark has been in a particular area.

The new technology is a world first and could well prove to be a better way to monitor the animal.

Researchers hope that the technology will help to reveal various behaviours of sharks, including showing which waters they seem to swim in the most and at which times of the year.

White shark expert Barry Bruce told the Sydney Morning Herald that researchers looking into shark attacks and other behaviours were so far unable to get "inside the shark's head".

"But as our technology evolves, we can better understand how these animals behave - and that's going to be a neat thing."

Given that the tracking technology is almost real-time, the new system is also thought to have the potential to save lives, warning beachgoers of sharks as well as keeping lifeguards at the ready.