Grey nurse shark numbers along Australia's east coast are on the rise, in "rare good conservation news" for the critically endangered species often dubbed "the labradors of the sea".

David Harasti from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries said the often misunderstood species was crucial for the ocean's ecosystem and harmless to humans.

"It's one of the more placid sharks, they come and look at you really inquisitively, they follow you around," he said.

" They're a very ferocious-looking shark with big pointy teeth but they're not known to bite people. "

Growing to more than three metres in length, grey nurses became the first shark species in the world to be protected in 1984.

Dr Harasti said while there was no accurate population estimate for the time, divers and re

See Full Page