Shark assessment report 2018 - Department of Agriculture · Between 2006–07 and 2014–15 total commercial shark catch in Australia declined substantially (Table 1). In 2006–07

Shark assessment report 2018 JamesWoodhamsandCherHarteResearch by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences

November2018

Shark assessment report 2018

Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

ii

©CommonwealthofAustralia2018

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Cataloguingdata

Thispublication(andanymaterialsourcedfromit)shouldbeattributedas:Woodhams,J&Harte,C2018,Sharkassessmentreport2018,ABARES,Canberra,November.CCBY4.0.https://doi.org/10.25814/5beb798826ad7

ISBN978‐1‐74323‐408‐2

Thispublicationisavailableatagriculture.gov.au/publications.

DepartmentofAgricultureandWaterResourcesGPOBox858CanberraACT2601Telephone1800900090Webagriculture.gov.au

TheAustralianGovernmentactingthroughtheDepartmentofAgricultureandWaterResources,representedbytheAustralianBureauofAgriculturalandResourceEconomicsandSciences,hasexercisedduecareandskillinpreparingandcompilingtheinformationanddatainthispublication.Notwithstanding,theDepartmentofAgricultureandWaterResources,ABARES,itsemployeesandadvisersdisclaimallliability,includingliabilityfornegligenceandforanyloss,damage,injury,expenseorcostincurredbyanypersonasaresultofaccessing,usingorrelyingonanyoftheinformationordatainthispublicationtothemaximumextentpermittedbylaw.

Acknowledgements

TheauthorsthankthemembersoftheSharkRepresentativeGroupfortheprovisionofmaterialcontainedinthereportandtheircommentsandfeedbackduringpreparationofthereport.



iii

Contents Introduction.......................................................................................................................................................1

Background.................................................................................................................................................................1

Dataandinformation..............................................................................................................................................1

AustralianFishingZone.........................................................................................................................................2

1 Australiansharkcatch...........................................................................................................................3

Commercialfishing..................................................................................................................................................3

Recreationalfishing.................................................................................................................................................5

Indigenoussharkfishing.......................................................................................................................................6

Othersharkcatch......................................................................................................................................................6

Postreleasemortalityofsharks.........................................................................................................................7

2 Sharkproductionandtrade................................................................................................................9

Globalsharkproduction........................................................................................................................................9

2.1 Sharktrade...................................................................................................................................................9

3 Stockstatus.............................................................................................................................................12

Statusdetermination............................................................................................................................................12

Straddlingand/orhighlymigratorystocks................................................................................................12

Riskassessment.....................................................................................................................................................14

4 Datacollection,storageandanalysis............................................................................................15

Collection..................................................................................................................................................................15

Storageandaccessibility....................................................................................................................................16

Analysis......................................................................................................................................................................16

5 Legislationandpolicy.........................................................................................................................17

Overarchingdomesticlegislation,policyandprocesses.......................................................................17

Commercialfishing...............................................................................................................................................17

Recreationalfishing..............................................................................................................................................19

Sharksprotectedbylegislation.......................................................................................................................20

6 Internationalinstrumentsandagreements...............................................................................24

ConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpeciesofWildFaunaandFlora..............24

ConventionontheConservationofMigratorySpeciesofWildAnimals........................................25

Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................................27

AppendixA:StatusclassesforStatusofAustralianFishStocks2016.......................................29

References.......................................................................................................................................................30

Furtherreadingonpost‐releasesurvival............................................................................................34



iv

Tables Table1Reportedcommercialsharkcatch,byjurisdiction,2006–07to2014–15.................................4

Table2Top10sharkspeciescaughtbyjurisdiction,2006–07to2014–15.............................................5

Table3Catchandreleaseratesforsharksandraystakenbyrecreationalfishers,bystate/territory,2000–01,2009–10,2012–13and2013–14...........................................................................6

Table4Tradecodesforsharkproducts................................................................................................................10

Table5Exportdestination,valueandvolume...................................................................................................10

Table6Importorigin,valueandquantity............................................................................................................11

Table7Sharkstockstatus,2016..............................................................................................................................12

Table8Principalfisherieslegislationandpolicy,Commonwealth,statesandNorthernTerritory................................................................................................................................................................................................18

Table9Sharkcontrolsforrecreationalanglers.................................................................................................19

Table10Listedsharkspeciesbyjurisdiction.....................................................................................................22

Table11SharkspeciescoveredbytheConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpeciesofWildFaunaandFlora...............................................................................................................................................25

Table12SharkspeciescoveredbytheConventionontheConservationofMigratorySpeciesofWildAnimals.....................................................................................................................................................................26

Figures Figure1Globalsharkcatch,1951to2015..............................................................................................................9

Maps Map1AustralianFishingZone.....................................................................................................................................2



1

Introduction

Background In1994,theninthconferenceofpartiestotheConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpeciesofWildFaunaandFlora(CITES)adoptedaresolutiononthestatusofinternationaltradeinsharkspecies.Theresolutioncalledforareviewofinformationontheglobalstatusofsharkstocksandtheimpactoftradeonthosestocks.In1999theFoodandAgricultureOrganization(FAO)oftheUnitedNationsreleasedtheInternationalPlanofActionforConservationandManagementofSharks(IPOA‒Sharks).

TheIPOA‒SharksisavoluntaryinstrumentthatdirectsFAOmemberstatesto‘adoptanationalplanofactionfortheconservationandmanagementofsharkstocks(NPOA‒Sharks)iftheirvesselsconductdirectedfisheriesforsharksoriftheirvesselsregularlycatchsharksinnon‐directedfisheries’.TheIPOA‒SharksdirectsthosestatesthatimplementanNPOA‒Sharkstoassessitregularly(atleasteveryfouryears)toidentifycost‐effectivestrategiesforincreasingitseffectiveness.

AustraliadevelopeditsfirstNPOA‒Sharksin2004(DAFF2004).Thisdrewoninformationinthefirstsharkassessmentreport(DAFF2001).Thesecondsharkassessmentreportincorporatedcatchandeffortdatato2005–06andmanagementinformationup2009(Bensleyetal.2010).ThesecondsharkassessmentreportsupportedthedevelopmentofthesecondNPOA‒Sharks(DAFF2012).

TheDepartmentofAgricultureandWaterResourcescommissionedthis(thethird)sharkassessmentreporttoinformthedevelopmentofthenextNPOA‒Sharks.The2018sharkassessmentreportbuildsoninformationprovidedinthe2001and2009reportsandprovidesupdatedinformationon:

resourceinformation,includingsharkcatch,tradeandstockstatus

fisheriesmanagementandregulatoryframeworks

conservationandmanagementarrangements.

Data and information ThissharkassessmentreporthasbeenpreparedwiththeassistanceofAustralian,stateandNorthernTerritoryfisheriesagenciesandmembersoftheShark‐PlanRepresentativeGroup(SRG).TheSRGwasestablishedtooverseeandreportonimplementationoftheNPOAoperationalstrategy.Thissharkassessmentreportincorporatespubliclyavailableinformationanddatafromeachjurisdictiononsharkcatchandmanagement.ThisreportalsoincludestradedataproducedbytheFAOandAustralianBureauofStatistics(ABS).

The2018sharkassessmentreportfocusesondatabetween2006–07and2014–15.Everyattempthasbeenmadetoensurethatthesedataareaccurateatthetimeofpublication.

Muchoftheinformationpresentedinthe2001and2009sharkassessmentreportsremainsunchangedandisnotreplicatedinthisreport.ThisreportusesstandardAustralianfishnames.



2

Australian Fishing Zone Stateandterritoryfisheriesagenciesgenerallymanagefisheriesoutto3nauticalmiles,whiletheAustralianGovernmentmanagesfisheriesinwatersfrom3nauticalmilesoutto200nauticalmiles.Thereareseveralexceptionstothisgeneralrule,withanumberofOffshoreConstitutionalSettlement(OCS)arrangementsestablishedtomanagefishstocksthatoccurinmorethanonemarinejurisdiction.UndertheseOCSarrangements,fishingforaparticularfishstockmaybemanagedeitherthroughjointauthorityarrangementsmadebetweentwoormorejurisdictionsorbytransferringmanagementofastraddlingstocktoasinglejurisdiction.Forexample,underOCSarrangements,theCommonwealthmanagescommercialfishingforschoolshark(Galeorhinusgaleus)andgummyshark(Mustelusantarcticus)stocksincoastalwatersoffsouth‐easternAustraliaonbehalfofVictoria,SouthAustraliaandTasmania.

ThisreportprincipallyconsidersdataandinformationforfisheriesoperatingwithintheAustralianFishingZone(Map1).Someinformationisalsopresentedforstraddlingand/orhighseasstocks.

Map 1 Australian Fishing Zone



3

1 Australian shark catch Australia’swaterscontainatleast322speciesofchondrichthyanfishes,includingsharks(182species),rays(125species)andchimaeras(15species)(Simpfendorferetal.forthcoming).

SharksarecaughtinfisheriesinCommonwealthfisheries,allstatesandtheNorthernTerritory.Commercialandnon‐commercialoperationstargetarelativelysmallnumberofspecies.Themajority(bynumber)ofsharkspeciescaughtinAustralianfisheriesaretakenaseitherbyproduct(somequantityisretained)orbycatch(notretained).

FishingmethodsusedtotargetsharksinAustraliaincludeline(demersallongline,setline,dropline,trotline,handlineandrodandreel),net(demersalandpelagicgillnet),handcollectionanddrumline(setaspartofbatherprotectionprograms).Somedemersaltrawlfisherieshistoricallytargeteddeepwatersharks,buttheseoperationsareunderstoodtohavelargelyceased.Sharksmayalsobetakenbyotherfishingmethodsusedtotargetotherspecies,includingmid‐watertrawl,haulseinenet,purseseinenet,meshnetandtrap(bothfishandcrustaceantrap).

Commercial fishing Between2006–07and2014–15totalcommercialsharkcatchinAustraliadeclinedsubstantially(Table1).In2006–07totalcommercialsharkcatchwasaround9,057tonnes,comparedwitharound5,750tonnesin2014–15.Catchin2014–15wasalsolowerthanlevelsreportedinthe2009sharkassessmentreport(Bensleyetal.2010).

Ideally,catchtrendswouldbeconsideredinconjunctionwitheffortdata.However,astandardisedunitoffishingeffortcannotbepracticallyappliedatthenationalscaleduetotherangeoffishingmethodsusedandthebroadspectrumofdatacollectionprotocols.

Theprocessedstateofcatchrecordedinlogbooksandcatchdocumentationschemesvariesbetweenfisheries.Commonstatesincludewholeweight,trunkedweightandguttedweight.Wherepossible,wholeweightispresentedinthisreport,butthisisnotalwayspossible.Therefore,catchshouldbeinterpretedastrendsratherthanabsolutevalues.



4

Table 1 Reported commercial shark catch, by jurisdiction, 2006–07 to 2014–15

Jurisdiction 2006–07(tonnes)

2007–08(tonnes)

2008–09(tonnes)

2009–10(tonnes)

2010–11(tonnes)

2011–12(tonnes)

2012–13(tonnes)

2013–14(tonnes)

2014–15(tonnes)

Commonwealtha 3,969 4,316 3,959 3,714 3,692 3,344 3,555 3,446 3,597

NewSouthWales 747 602 314 356 330 321 273 247 205

Victoria 63 56 42 38 49 49 46 43 42

Queensland 1,672 1,417 1,289 899 702 582 551 585 592

SouthAustralia 159 197 236 342 258 273 210 206 136

WesternAustralia 1,574 1,899 1,608 1,226 1,013 912 946 995 1,044

Tasmania 35 24 21 16 17 16 13 10 12

NorthernTerritory 838 822 885 665 853 795 442 127 123

Totalb 9,057 9,333 8,354 7,257 6,914 6,291 6,035 5,659 5,750

a Commonwealth catch includes discards where data were available. b Reporting of catch by jurisdiction varies according to the state of processing. Some jurisdictions report whole weight;

others report processed weight. This information should only be used to make indicative comparisons between years and jurisdictions.

Source: Data supplied by jurisdictions.



5

Species mix Thekeyspeciesthatmakeupcatchvaryforeachjurisdiction.Totalcatchoftencomprisesseveralspecies,butarelativelysmallnumberofspeciesorspeciesgroupsusuallymakeupmostofthatcatch.Table2presentsthe10speciesorspeciesgroups(includingpercentageofcatch)whichcontributemosttothetotalreportedcatchbyjurisdictionfor2006–07to2014–15.Thecontributiontototalcatchofaspeciesorspeciesgroupmayvaryslightlybetweenyearsatthejurisdictionallevel.

Table 2 Top 10 shark species caught by jurisdiction, 2006–07 to 2014–15

Jurisdiction Top10speciesbycatchvolume Proportionoftotalcatch

(%)

Commonwealth Gummy,school,sawshark(Pristiophorusspp.),ornateangelshark(Squatinatergocellata),commonsawshark(Ristiophoruscirratus),elephantfish(Callorhinchusmilii),shortfinmako(Isurusoxyrinchus),Australianangelshark(Squatinaaustralis),platypus(mixedspecies)andbroadnoseshark(Notorynchuscepedianus).

85

NewSouthWales Shovelnoserays(familyRhinobatidae),unspecifiedshark,gummy,fiddlerrays(Trygonorrhina),angelshark(Squatinaspp),blacktip(Carcharhinusspp),sandbar(C.plumbeus),sawshark(Pristiophorusspp.),wobbegong(Orectolobidae)andbronzewhaler(C.brachyurus).

78

Victoria Gummy,skate,southerneagleray(Myliobatisaustralis),elephantfish,angelshark,blue(Prionaceglauca),school,bronze,sevengilledandunspecifiedshark.

97

Queensland Unspecifiedwhaler(Carcharhinusspp),Australianblacktip,hammerhead,blacktip,unspecifiedshark,spot‐tail,scallopedhammerhead(Sphyrnalewini),pigeyeandbullshark(grouped)andspinnershark(Carcharhinusbrevipinna).

91

SouthAustralia Gummy,school,bronzeandduskywhaler,wobbegong,portjackson(Heterodontusportusjacksoni),elephantfish,sawsharkandother.

100

WesternAustralia Gummy,bronze,whiskery(Furgaleusmacki),sandbar,hammerhead,copperwhaler,spinner,wobbegong,blacktipandpigeye.

94

Tasmania Gummy,elephantfish,draughtboard(Cephaloscylliumlaticeps),school,sevengilled(Hexanchidae),sawshark,thresher(Alopiasspp.),mako(Isurusspp.),unspecifiedsharkandwobbegong.

99

NorthernTerritory Australianblacktip(C.tilstoni),hammerhead(Sphyrnaspp.),spottail(C.sorrah),pigeye(C.amboinensis),bull(C.leucas),lemon(Negaprionacutidens),tiger(Galeocerdocuvier),winghead(Eusphyrablochii),duskyandmilkshark(Rhizoprionodonacutus).

99

Source: Data supplied by jurisdictions

Recreational fishing Recreationalsharkcatchisgenerallynotwellunderstood.Thisislargelytheresultoftheinherentchallengesassociatedwithmonitoringrecreationalfishersandrecreationalcatch,thetypicallynon‐targetnatureofsharkswithinthebroaderrecreationalcatch.Therearealsochallengesassociatedwiththeidentificationofsharks.

Mostjurisdictionsconductsomeformofsurveyofrecreationalanglerstocaptureasnapshotofactivity.Asurveymethodologyistypicallyselectedbasedonthespecificinformationneedsofthejurisdiction.Mostsurveyscollectatleastsomedataoncatch(forexample,speciesorspecies



6

group,numberorweightoffishandwhethercatchisretainedordiscarded)andeffort(forexample,timespentfishing,boatuseinhours/daysanddistancetravelledtofish).

Table3showsthemostrecentestimatesofcatchandreleaseratesfromjurisdictionalsurveysofrecreationalfishers.RecreationalanglersoperatingonlyinCommonwealthwatersarenotspecificallyorseparatelysurveyed.Therefore,anyrecreationalanglingactivityinCommonwealthwatersarelikelytobereflectedinthesurveyoftheneighbouringstateorterritorysurvey.

Releaseratesforsharksinrecreationalfisheriesaretypicallyquitehigh.Relativelyfewspecies(asaproportionofthetotalnumberofspeciesinteractedwith)aretargetedand/orretained.Speciescommonlytargetedandretainedincludeelephantfishandgummyshark.

Table 3 Catch and release rates for sharks and rays taken by recreational fishers, by state/territory, 2000–01, 2009–10, 2012–13 and 2013–14

Jurisdiction Number Standarderror

Releaserate(%)

Surveyyear

NewSouthWales/AustralianCapitalTerritory

108,938 19,326 95 2013–14

Victoria 89,423 20,585 82a 2000–01

Queensland 193,000 28,000 96 2013–14

SouthAustralia 37,694 na 57 2013–14

WesternAustralia 30,671 na 91 2013–14

Tasmania 38,614 5,033 76 2012–13

NorthernTerritory 27,738 3454 95b 2009–10

a National release rate from survey ‐ not specific to Victoria. b More recent estimates are available, but these are restricted

to the broader Darwin area and are not territory wide. na Not available.

Sources: Giri & Hall (2015), Henry & Lyle (2003), Lyle, Stark & Tracy (2014), QDAF 2013–14, Ryan et al. (2015), West et al.

(2012), West et al. (2015).

Indigenous shark fishing SharksandraysareanimportantresourceforIndigenousAustralians(Saunders&Carne2010).EstimatesofsharkandraycatchbyIndigenousAustralianshavenotbeenupdatedsincethe2009sharkassessmentreport.

Other shark catch NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program UndertheNSWSharkMeshing(BatherProtection)Program,netsaresetat51beachesbetweenWollongongandNewcastlefromSeptembertoApril(inclusive)eachyear.Netsaresetin10to12metresofwater,typicallywithin500metresoftheshore.Theyarefittedwithacousticdevicestodeterdolphinsandwhales.

TheNSWGovernmentpublishesanannualreportontheprogram.Inthe2015–16meshingseason,748entanglementswithmarinelifewererecorded—comprising133withtargetsharksand615withnon‐targetmarinelife;384animals(51percent)werereleasedalive(NSWDepartmentofPrimaryIndustries2017).



7

Queensland Shark Control Program TheQueenslandGovernmenthashadasharkcontrolprograminplacesince1962.Undertheprogram,netsanddrumlinesareusedtominimisethethreatofsharkattacksonhumans.Between2001and2015anaverageof629sharksperyearwerecaughtundertheprogram(QueenslandGovernmentDepartmentofAgricultureandFisheries2016).Themainspecies/speciesgroupsareblacktipreefshark(Carcharhinusmelanopterus),bullshark,spinnersharkandtigershark.

Western Australia FromJanuarytoApril2014theWAGovernmenttrialledasharkdrumliningprograminmetropolitanandGeographeBaywaters.Undertheprogram,199sharks(mainlytigersharks)werecaptured.Tigersharkslongerthan3metreswereeuthanised.Asinglenorth‐westblowfishwasalsocaughtduringthetrial(WADepartmentofPrimaryIndustries2014).

Post release mortality of sharks Awidevarietyofsharkspeciesinteractwithcommercialandrecreationalfishinggearwithcertainspeciesandlifehistorystrategiesbeingmoresusceptibletocertaingeartypes.Forexample,relativelylarge,pelagicorhighlymigratorysharkspeciesarerelativelymoresusceptibletopelagiclonglinegear,whilerelativelysmalldemersalsharks,skatesandraysarerelativelymoresusceptibletodemersaltrawlgear.Fishersmaylandandsellsomeofthesespecies,butfewofthesesharksaretheprimarytargetspeciesofoperations.Becausethesesharksareoftendiscarded,itisimportanttounderstandpostreleasemortality.

Somefishingmethods,geartypesandvesseltypesaremoreeasilyconfiguredtostudypostreleasemortality(PRM).Further,thebiology,behaviourand/orpreferredhabitatsofsomesharksmakethemrelativelyeasiertostudywithregardtoPRMthanothers.Asastartingpoint,fishingmethodsthatmorefrequentlylandlivesharksarebettercandidatesforstudyinghowmanyofthosesharkssurviveafterrelease.

SomekeyelementsofPRMaredescribedbelow.Alistofadditionalsourcesoffurtherreadingcanbefoundonpage34.

Methods Pop‐uparchivaltagsareoneofthebettermethodsavailabletodirectlyestimatepostreleasesurvival.Thesearetypicallyattachedtothesharkon,oralongsidethevesselandprogrammedtodetachandtransmitdataafterthedeathoftheanimalorwhenaspecifiedamountoftimeisreached(forexample,30days).Ifatagdetachesbeforethespecifiedtime,thesharkisassumedtohavediedasaresultofitsinteractionwiththefishinggear.Tagdetachmentafterthespecifiedtimeistypicallyinterpretedastheanimalhavingsurviveditsinteractionwiththefishinggear.

Therearerelativelyfewquantitativestudiesthatmeasurethesurvivalofsharksafterreleasefromcommercialorrecreationalfishingusingthesemethods.Thisisprincipallybecausethistypeofresearchisresourceintensive(incosts,skillsandtime)andlogisticallydifficult(ingettingresearchersandgearontoboatsanddeployedontargetanimals).Theresourceintensivenatureoftheresearchmeansthatoftenfewarchivaltagsaredeployed,influencingstatisticalpowerofthedatafromthetagsrecovered.Asaresult,non‐tagmethodsareincreasinginpopularity.Theseprincipallyuseaspectsofbloodchemistrytodetectstresslevelsofthesharkandthroughthisinferthelikelihoodofsurvivalpostrelease.



8

Indications from recent research‐line gears Researchindicatesthathooktype(forexample,j‐hookorcirclehook)andhookinglocation(mouth/jaw/gut/tail)areimportantdeterminantsofPRM(Curruthers,Schnieider&Neilson2009).Sharkshookedinthemouthorjaw(typicallybycirclehooks)haveabetterchanceofsurvival,providedminimaldamageisdoneduringremovalofthehookand/orreleasingtheanimalfromthegear.Conversely,sharkshookedinthegills,gutortail(typicallybyj‐hooks)havearelativelypoorerchanceofsurvival.Timeonthelinemayalsobeanimportantindicatoroflikelihoodofsurvivalpostrelease.Forsomespecies(butnotall),thelongerthetimeonline,thepoorerthechanceofsurvivalpostrelease(Barnesetal.2016;Butcheretal.2015;WCPFC2017d).

Leadermaterialmayalsocontributetopostcapturemortality.Sharksareoftenabletobitethroughmonofilamentlines.Asaresult,theyspendlesstimeonthelineandarenotsubjecttoextendedperiodsofrestrictedmovementoranyadditionaldamageresultingfromhandlingbyfishers.Whereasharkiscutfreefromthegear,withalengthofleadermaterialtrailingfromthehook,thelengthofleadermaterialtrailingfromtheanimalmayalsoinfluencelong‐termsurvival.Longleaderstrailingfromthehookcanreducechancesofsurvivalduetothedragcausedbythetrailingleader(WCPFC2017d).

Indications from recent research—net gears Sharkstakenusingdemersaltrawlgearsgenerallyexhibitlowersurvivalratesthanthosetakenwithothergears(Eddy,Brill&Bernal2016;Ellis,McCully‐Phillips&Francois2017).TheLongerthetrawltimeandthelargertheamountorweightoffishinthenet,thepoorerthechancesarethatsharkswillsurvive.

Thesizeofthesharkrelativetotherestofthefish(orcrustaceans)inthenetmayalsoaffectsurvivalratesbecausecrushingandrestrictedmovement(andreducedventilation)areprimarycausesofstress.Wherethesharkissubstantiallylargerthantheotheranimalsinthenet,itmayexperiencelesscrushing(insteadcrushingtheothercontentsofthenet).Reducedventilationremainsanissueandoneoftheprimarystressorsonsharkstakenbynetgearsisrestrictedmovement.Thesephenomenaareworseforsharksthatrelyonramventilation(theyneedtoswimandhavewaterpassingovertheirgillstoeffectivelyrespire).

Purseseinenetsconfinelargequantitiesoffishinarestrictedarea.Thisisanotherkeystressorfornet‐caughtsharksbecausetheconcentrationoffishreduceswateroxygenlevels—impairingeffectiverespiration.



9

2 Shark production and trade

Global shark production TheFoodandAgricultureOrganization(FAO)oftheUnitedNationspublishesglobalsharkcapturedatacoveringallspeciesofchondrichthyans(FAO2017).Thesedatashowasteadyincreaseinreportedsharkcapturesincethe1950s(Figure1).Catchappearstopeakintheearly2000s,thenfollowsadecliningtrendinmorerecentyears,levellingoutataround750,000tonnesperyear.

DentandClarke(2015)reportthattheretentionofsharkmeatforsaleandsubsequentconsumptionisgraduallyincreasingandthattheglobaltradeinsharkfin,apreviousdriverofincreasinglandings,hasstabilisedinrecentyears.Thesedatamaycomprisemixedstatesofproduct(resultingfromsomelevelofprocessing),aswellassomedoublecountingofre‐exportedproduct.

Figure 1 Global shark catch, 1951 to 2015

Source: FAO 2017

Shark trade ThisreportdrawsonABSfisheriestradedatafor2005–06to2015–16(suppliedtoABARESonanannualbasistoassistwithvariousprojectsandanalyses).Thesedatacontainquantityandvalueofsharkproductsimportedinto,andexportedfromAustralia.Theyalsocontainsomeinformationonproducttype,butareoflimitedvalueintermsofunderstandingthespeciesthatcomprisethistradeactivity(Table4).Further,interpretationoflocationwithinthesestatisticsshouldbeapproachedwithsomecautionbecausere‐exporting(whereaproductisimported,possiblyprocessedandthenre‐exported)iscommon.ThedatashowthatAustraliaimportsasignificantlylargerquantityofsharkproductthanitexports.

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

900,000

1,000,000

1951

1953

1955

1957

1959

1961

1963

1965

1967

1969

1971

1973

1975

1977

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

2011

2013

2015



10

Table 4 Trade codes for shark products

Codetype Tradecode Productdescription

Import 0302650024 Dogfishandothersharks,freshorchilled(excludingfishfilletsandotherfishmeatof0304,liversandroes)

0302810040 Freshorchilleddogfishandothersharks(excludingfilletsandothermeatofHS0304andliversandroes)

0303750019 Dogfishandothersharks,frozen(excludingfishfilletsandotherfishmeatof0304,liversandroes)

0303810070 Frozendogfishandothersharks(excludingfilletsandothermeatofHS0304andliversandroes)

0305590025 Driedsharkfins(excludingsmoked)

0305710091 Sharkfins,dried,salted,inbrineorsmoked,whetherornotcookedbeforeorduringthesmokingprocess

Export 03026500 Dogfishandothersharks,freshorchilled(excludingfishfillets,otherfishmeat,liversandroes)

03037500 Dogfish,andothersharks,frozen(excludingfishfillets,otherfishmeat,liversandroes)

03038100 Frozendogfishandothersharks(excludingfilletsandothermeatofHS0304andliversandroes)

03057100 Sharkfins,dried,salted,inbrineorsmoked,whetherornotcookedbeforeorduringthesmokingprocess

Importandexport

0304 Fishfilletsandotherfishmeat(whetherornotminced),fresh,chilledorfrozen

Source: ABS

Exported shark product From2005–06to2015–16,Australiaexportedjustover268tonnesofsharkproduct(valueapproximately$1.1million)(Table5).ThemostimportantdestinationintermsofvaluewasHongKong,whileTaiwanwasmostimportantintermsofvolume.Japanwasthemostimportantdestinationintermsofunitprice,closelyfollowedbySingapore.

Table 5 Export destination, value and volume

Country Value($) Volume(kg)

HongKong 728,270 50,912

Singapore 103,296 2,000

Taiwan 91,574 109,569

Philippines 86,884 33,254

Malaysia 48,796 4,500

China 22,906 65,896

NewZealand 22,376 1,857

Japan 2,640 49

UnitedStates 496 50

Thailand 316 48

Total 1,107,554 268,135



11

Imported shark product From2005–06to2015–16,Australiaimportedalittleover5600tonnesofsharkproduct(valuenearly$50million)(Table6).Themajority,invalueandvolume,ofimportedsharkproductcamefromNewZealand.

Table 6 Import origin, value and quantity

Country Value($) Volume(kg)

NewZealand 37,475,859 5,379,628

China 5,167,004 94,141

HongKong 2,733,326 21,845

Indonesia 1,300,299 16,790

Philippines 1,028,993 10,319

Singapore 963,189 5,690

Taiwan 307,344 43,662

Greece 280,543 46,469

Japan 169,313 667

PapuaNewGuinea 123,480 1,170

UnitedStates 51,375 270

Brazil 45,208 261

Fiji 37,549 3,170

Spain 31,189 290

Malaysia 13,119 1,400

Oman 11,684 32

RepublicofKorea 11,254 2,352

Thailand 8,802 138

NewCaledonia 6,153 48

Argentina 6,050 2,506

Uruguay 5,012 2,000

Vietnam 4,617 296

Pakistan 4,225 4

UnitedKingdom 3,800 111

Kyrgyzstan 1,520 214

Tonga 1,300 11

SouthAfrica 1,027 320

Total 49,793,234 5,633,804



12

3 Stock status

Status determination TheStatusofAustralianFishStocksReportsprovidethemostcomprehensiveinformationonnationalstatusofsharks.Thefirstreportwaspublishedin2012(Floodetal.2013)andreportedstatusforaround70percentoftotalcatchand80percentoftotalvalueofwildcapturefisheriesinAustraliain2009–10.Thesecondreportcoveredaround85percentoftotalcatchand90percentoftotalvalueofwildcapturefisheriesinAustraliain2012–13(Finnetal.2015).Thethirdandmostrecenteditionofthereportcoveredaround90percentoftotalcatchand90percentoftotalvalueofwildcapturefisheriesinAustraliain2015(Stewardsonetal.2016).

Thethirdeditionreportsonthestatusof10sharkstocksacrossfivespecies.StatusforthesestocksisprovidedinTable7.DefinitionsforstatusareprovidedinAppendix.Whenpublished,Simpfendorferetal.(forthcoming)isexpectedtoprovideacomprehensiveassessmentofthestatusofallsharks(excludingrays)inAustraliausingasimilarapproach.

Table 7 Shark stock status, 2016

Species Stock Jurisdiction Status

Blacktipshark

Eastcoast Queensland,NewSouthWales Sustainable

GulfofCarpentaria NorthernTerritory,Queensland Undefined

Northandwestcoast NorthernTerritory,WesternAustralia Sustainable

Duskywhaler

WesternAustralian Commonwealth,SouthAustralia,WesternAustralia

Transitional–recovering

EasternAustralian Commonwealth,NewSouthWales Undefined

Gummyshark

SouthernAustralian Commonwealth,NewSouthWales,Tasmania,Victoria,SouthAustralia,WesternAustralia

Sustainable

EasternAustralian NewSouthWales Undefined

Sandbarshark

WesternAustralian NorthernTerritory,WesternAustralia Transitional–recovering

EasternAustralian Queensland,NewSouthWales Undefined

Schoolshark

SouthernAustralian Commonwealth,NewSouthWales,Tasmania,Victoria,SouthAustralia,WesternAustralia

Overfished

Source: Stewardson et al. 2016

Straddling and/or highly migratory stocks SeveralpelagicsharkstocksarecaughtinassociationwithCommonwealthmanagedtunafisheriesoperatinginAustralianwatersandonthehighseas.Thissectionsummarisesthelatestassessmentinformationforthesestocks.

Pacific Ocean oceanic whitetip shark In2012,theWestern&CentralPacificFisheriesCommission(WCPFC2012)developedanewassessmentforoceanicwhitetipsharks(Carcharhinuslongimanus)inthePacificOcean.Thisnewmodellingindicatedthatthestockwasoverfishedandthatoverfishingwasoccurring—basedonreferencepointsassociatedwithmaximumsustainableyield(MSY).ManagementmeasurestoreducefishingmortalityhavebeenagreedundertheConservationand



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ManagementMeasureforOceanicWhitetipSharks(CMM2011–04)andtheWCPFCScientificCommittee(SC)hasrecommendedavoidingcaptureasthebestwaytoimprovethestatusofthestock.

Pacific Ocean silky shark In2012,theWCPFC(2013)developedanewassessmentforsilkyshark(Carcharhinusfalciformis)inthePacificOcean.Itfoundthatsilkysharkswereoverfishedandthatoverfishingwasoccurring.TheSCadvisedthatthegreatestimpactonthestockisattributedtobycatchfromthelonglinefishery,withsignificantimpactsalsofromthepurseseinefishery.TheSCrecommendedtheCommissionconsidermeasuresdirectedatbycatchmitigation,aswellasmeasuresdirectedattargetedcatch,suchasfromsharklinestoimprovethestatusofthesilkysharkpopulation.

North Pacific shortfin mako In2015,theWCPFC(2015)conductedanewassessmentforshortfinmakointheNorthPacific.Itfoundthatthestockisdatapoorandthatstockstatuscouldnotbedetermined.

North Pacific blue shark In2017,theWCPFCcompletedanewassessmentofbluesharkintheNorthPacific(WCPFC2017a).ItconcludedthatbiomasswasaboveMSYlevelsandthatoverfishingwasnotoccurring.

Indian Ocean blue shark Therelationshipbetweenabundance,catchperuniteffortandtotalcatchesoverthepastdecadeisuncertain.Threestockassessmentmodelswereappliedtothebluesharkresourcein2015.Twomodelsproducedsimilarresults,suggestingthatoverfishingwasoccurringbutthatitwasnotyetoverfished.ThethirdsuggestedthestockwasclosetoMSYlevelsandthatoverfishingwasnotoccurring.A‘bestcase’modelcouldnotbeselectedbytheSCsotheresultsrepresentedtherangeofplausiblemodelruns(WCPFC2016).TheSCrecommendedthattheCommissionconsideraprecautionaryapproachtobluesharkmanagementbyensuringthatfuturecatchesdonotexceedcurrentcatches,thatthestockshouldbecloselymonitoredandthatmechanismsneedtobedevelopedbytheCommissiontoimprovecurrentstatistics.Encouragingcooperatingpartiestocomplywiththeirrecordingandreportingrequirementsforsharks,soastobetterinformscientificadviceisseenasapriority.

Southern hemisphere porbeagle shark In2017,anewassessmentwasdevelopedforporbeagleshark(Lamnanasus)intheSouthernHemisphere.ThestockassessedcoveredtherangeofthespeciesintheSouthernHemisphereanditsoccurrenceintheareasofcompetenceoftheWCPFC,theInter‐AmericanTropicalTunaCommission(IATTC),theInternationalCommissionfortheConservationofAtlanticTunas,theIndianOceanTunaCommissionandtheCommissionfortheConservationofSouthernBluefinTuna(WCPFC2017b).Thisassessmentusedarisk‐basedapproachanddoesnotprovidedirectestimatesofstockdepletion.Fishingmortalityforporbeagleisconsideredtoberelativelylowoverallandtheprobabilityofitbeingunderthethreereferencepointsdefinedintheassessmenthighorveryhigh.TheSCadvisedtheCommissionthattheriskofporbeaglebeingsubjecttooverfishinganywhereinthesouthernhemispherewasverylow.



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Pacific Ocean bigeye thresher shark Anewassessmentwasdevelopedin2017whichspanstheentirePacificOcean(thatistheWCPFCandIATTCareasofcompetence;WCPFC2017c).Thisassessmentusesa‘riskassessment’approachanddoesnotprovidedirectestimatesofstockdepletion.Underthismodelbigeyethreshershark(Alopiassuperciliosus)mortalityisestimatedtobehighoverall,buttotalimpactsfrompelagiclonglinesarelow.TheSCrecommendedthattheCommissiontakethisassessmentintoconsiderationwhendevelopingmanagementmeasures.

Risk assessment RiskassessmentsareincreasinglybeingusedinAustraliatoidentifysharkspeciesatriskfromfishingactivities(forexampleHobdayetal.2007;Salinietal.2007;Stobutzkietal.2003;Walkeretal.2008).TheriskassessmentmethodologiesusedacrossAustraliavaryindesign,butallattempttomeasurethelikelihoodandconsequenceofadverseimpactsonsharkstocksfromfishing.InQueensland,keyriskassessmentpublicationsincludePearsetal.(2012),Tobinetal.(2010)andZellerandSnape(2006).TheDepartmentofPrimaryIndustriesandRegions,SouthAustralia,publishedariskassessmentfortheCommercialMarineScalefishFishery(PIRSA2011).AllCommonwealthfisheriesareassessedthroughacommonmethodology(describedinHobdayetal.2007).



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4 Data collection, storage and analysis

Collection AllAustraliancommercialfisheriesthatcatchsharkemploysomeformofmandatorylogbooksystemtorecordcommercialcatchandeffortinformation.Thelevelofinformationrequiredvariesbetweenfisheriesandjurisdictions.Fortargetsharkfisheries,logbooksusuallyprovideforrecordingofcatchataspeciesorspeciesgrouplevelandeffortaccordingtoaunitofgeardeployed(forexample,gillnetlength,gillnethoursorhookhours).Verificationofcatchmayalsobeundertakenuponlandingtomonitorcatchagainstquotaandsupportstockassessments.Generallyspeaking,theprevalenceofnon‐speciesspecificreporting(forexample,useoffamilynames)orgenericreporting(forexample,‘shark‐unspecified’)increaseswhenthesharkscaughtarenotprimarythetargetspeciesorarelargelydiscarded.

Paper‐basedlogbookreturnscompletedbyfishersaretheprincipaldatarecordingmethodusedinmostfisheries.Somejurisdictionsareimplementingelectronicreportingprocedures.Electronicsubmissionofdataenablesalmostrealtimecollection,whileatthesametimepotentiallyreducingdataacquisitionandprocessingcosts.

Observerprogramsprovidevaluableinformationbutarerarelydesignedspecificallytocapturedataonsharkcatchorinteractions.Severaljurisdictionsuseobserverprograms(humanorelectronic)andotherscientificresearchprocessestovalidatelogbookinformationandgatheradditionaldata.TheCommonwealthhasanobserverprograminoperationinmostofitsfisheries,partlytovalidatelogbookdata,butalsotocollectinformationonbycatch,includinginteractionswiththreatened,endangeredorprotected(TEP)species.Anumberofotherjurisdictionshaveobserverorscientificprogramsinplacetocollectorvalidatesomeaspectoffisherydata.TheNTGovernmentrunsacollaborativesharktaggingprogramwithcommercialfishersandtheQueenslandGovernmentuses‘speciesofconservationinterestlogbooks’.

TheuseofvesselmonitoringsystemsismandatedinallCommonwealthfisheries,aswellasforsomefisheriesinVictoria,Queensland,SouthAustralia,WesternAustraliaandtheNorthernTerritory.ThereisincreasinguseofelectronicmonitoringsystemsinAustralianfisheriesasthetechnologiesusedinthesesystemsbecomesmorereliableandmoreabletocollectnecessaryinformation.

Thedegreetowhichsharkcatchdataarerecordedandvalidatedisdependentonthefisheryandobjectivesofthemonitoringprogramsinplace.Itisoftennotpossibleforobserverprogramstomonitorallinteractions.

ImprovedcatchdatainrecentyearshasimprovedunderstandingofthetotalAustraliansharkcatch.However,thereremainsscopeforcontinuedimprovementintheresolutionofreportingofsharks.ThisisevidencedbytheuseofgenericorgroupcodesdetailedinTable2.



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Storage and accessibility Alljurisdictionsstorecommercialcatchdataindatabasesthatenableefficientaccessbythemanagementagencyandmaintainthesecurityandprivacyofcommercialinformation.However,datacollected,datamanagementandstoragefacilitiesdiffer—asdomethodsfordataentry,qualitycontrolandanalysis.Thesedifferencesmakeconsistentnationalreportingdifficult.Mostjurisdictionspublishreportsthatsummarisecatchandeffortdatabyfisheryorgeartype.Thesereportsmayormaynotincludesharkcatchtospecieslevel.

Analysis Fisheryorstockassessmentadviceistypicallyprovidedbyexpert‐basedandfishery‐specificassessmentgroups.Alljurisdictionshaveimplementedconsultativeforumstoprovidegovernmentwithmanagementadvice.Commonwealth‐managedfisheriesuseadvisorygroupssuchastheSouthernandEasternScalefishResourceAssessmentGroup(SESSFRAG)andSharkResourceAssessmentGroup(SharkRAG).Resourceassessmentgroupsaretypicallymadeupofscientificexperts,fisherymanagersandfishingindustryandothernon‐governmentrepresentatives—includingrecreationalfishingrepresentativesandenvironmentalnon‐governmentalorganisations.Stateandterritoryjurisdictionstypicallyuseasimilarmodelfortheiradvisorygroupswithsimilarmembership.Thesegroupsareusuallystructuredtoallowforformalassessments(ofstocks,speciesormanagementissues)tobeundertakenoutofsessionbytherelevantexpertsandthenbroughtintothestakeholderforumfordiscussionandtheformulationofmanagementadvice.Thisadviceisusuallypresentedaccordingtofisherylevelobjectivesandanyagreedreferencepoints.



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5 Legislation and policy

Overarching domestic legislation, policy and processes Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 TheEnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservationAct1999(EPBCAct)isimportantforfisheriesofalljurisdictions.Itcovers:

listingandregulationofthreatened,endangeredorprotectedspecies

preparationofrecoveryplans

identificationofkeythreateningprocessesand,whereappropriate,developmentofthreatabatementplans

directionofassessmentandexportapprovalprocessesforallfisherieswithanexportcomponent.

AllCommonwealthfisheriesaresubjecttoindependentassessmentundertheEPBCActregardlessofexportassessmentrequirements.Theseassessmentshelptoensuretheecologicalsustainabilityoffisheries.

Australia’s NPOA‒Sharks TheNationalPlanofActionfortheConservationandManagementofSharks2012—Sharkplan2(NPOA‒Sharks)contains38actionstoachievethebroaderobjectivesoftheplan.Notallactionsapplyequallytoalljurisdictions,sotheSRGdevelopedanOperationalStrategytoidentifytheactionseachjurisdictionwouldpursueoverthelifeoftheplan.EachjurisdictionreportsprogressagainsttheactionstotheSRG.ThesereportsarepublishedontheSharkspageoftheDepartmentofAgricultureandWaterResourceswebsite.

National Shark Recovery Group TheNationalSharkRecoveryGroup(NSRG)advisestheAustralianGovernmentDepartmentoftheEnvironmentandEnergyonthedesignandimplementationofrecoveryplansforEPBCAct–listedsharkspecies.NSRGmembershipcomprisestheCommonwealth,stateandterritorygovernmentagencies;Indigenousrepresentatives;commercialfishingindustry,conservationandrecreationalsectorrepresentatives;andscientificexperts.

Australia’s Oceans Policy TheAustralianGovernmentisguidedbyAustralia’sOceansPolicy(EnvironmentAustralia1998)initsmarineenvironmentprograms.Thepolicyprovidesnationalcoordinationandconsistencyformarineplanningandmanagement,andallowsforregionaldiversity.TheMinisterfortheEnvironmentandEnergyisresponsibleforthepolicy.

Commercial fishing Alljurisdictionshavefisheriesmanagementandconservationlegislationthatdirectsfisheriesmanagementarrangementsforsharks(Table8).



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Table 8 Principal fisheries legislation and policy, Commonwealth, states and Northern Territory

Jurisdiction Legislation Policies,policyinstrumentsandmanagementprocesses

Commonwealth FisheriesManagementAct1991

FisheriesAdministrationAct1991

TorresStraitFisheriesAct1984

EnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservationAct1999

GreatBarrierReefMarineParkAct1975

MaritimePowersAct2013

CommonwealthFisheriesHarvestStrategyPolicyandGuidelines(2007)

CommonwealthPolicyonFisheriesBycatch(2000)

EcosystemBasedFisheriesManagement

MinisterialDirection2005

Managementadvisorycommittees

Resourceassessmentgroups

Otheradvisorygroups(forexample,ongulpersharks)

NewSouthWales FisheriesManagementAct1994

EnvironmentalPlanningandAssessmentAct1979

ThreatenedSpeciesConservationAct1995


Fishery‐specificmanagementstrategies

Riskassessments

Victoria FisheriesAct1995

FloraandFaunaGuaranteeAct1988

Fisherymanagementplans

Queensland FisheriesAct1994

FisheriesRegulation2008

NatureConservationAct1992

MarineParksAct2004

GreatBarrierReefMarineParkAct1975

QueenslandSustainableFisheriesStrategy2017–2027

Establishedworkinggroups

SouthAustralia FisheriesManagementAct2007

Fisheries(General)Regulations2000

NationalParksandWildlifeConservationAct1975

MarineParksAct2007

FisheriesCouncil

CommercialBlueCrabFisherydraftmanagementplan

CommercialGiantCrabFisherydraftmanagementplan

GSVPrawnFisheryManagementPlan

WesternAustralia FishResourcesManagementAct1994

FishResourcesManagementRegulations1995

WildlifeConservationAct1950


Tasmania Fisheries(Scalefish)Rules2015

Fisheries(GeneralandFees)Regulations2016

LivingMarineResourcesManagementAct1995

Fisheryadvisorycommittees

ScalefishFisheryManagementPlan

NorthernTerritory

NorthernTerritoryFisheriesAct1988

NorthernTerritoryFisheriesRegulations1993

TerritoryParksandWildlifeandConservationAct2006

OffshoreNetandLineFisheryManagementAdvisoryCommittee

NorthernONLFLicenseeCommittee

NorthernTerritorySeafoodCouncil

BarramundiFisheryManagementPlan

MudCrabFisheryManagementPlan

SpanishMackerelFisheryManagementPlan



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Recreational fishing Alljurisdictionshavecontrolsinplacetomanagetherecreationaltakeofsharks.AsummaryofthesecontrolscanbefoundinTable9.

SomeformofrecreationalfishinglicenceisrequiredinalljurisdictionsexcepttheNorthernTerritory.However,insomejurisdictionstheselicencesareonlyrequiredforspecificactivities(forexample,WesternAustralia’srecreationalfishingfromboatlicence)andsomelicencesmayhavelittlebearingonthemanagementofsharks(forexample,theQueenslandStockedImpoundmentPermitScheme).

Fish(includingshark)caughtrecreationallycannotbesoldortradedinanyAustralianjurisdiction.

Table 9 Shark controls for recreational anglers

Jurisdiction Speciesorspeciesgroup Controls Additionalinformation

NewSouthWales

Wobbegong Mustbereleased –

Allsharks Possessionlimitof5 –

Tiger,mako,smoothhammerhead,whaler,blueshark

Possessionlimitof1ofanyofthesespecies

–

Great(Sphyrnamokarran)andscallopedhammerhead,greynurse(Carchariastaurus),Herbstsnurse(Odontaspisferox),whale(Rhincodontypus)andwhiteshark(Carcharodoncarcharias)

Protectedbylegislation;notake

Alsoappliestocommercialfishing

Schoolshark Minsize91cm –

Victoria Whiteandgreynursesharks Protectedbylegislation;notake


Elephantfish Possessionlimitof1 –

Gummyand/orschoolshark Possessionlimitof1;minimumsizeof45cm

–

Allothersharks Possessionlimitof1perspecies;max5sharksperperson

–

Rays,skatesandguitarfish Possessionlimitof1;maxsizeof1.5m(wide);notakewithin400mofpier,jetty,wharforbreakwater;alltobelandedwhole

–

Queensland Narrow(Anoxypristiscuspidata),dwarf(P.clavata),freshwater(P.microdon)andgreensawfish(P.zijsron);white,greynurse,speartoothsharks;mantaray(MantabirostrisandM.birostris)


Alsoappliestocommercialfishing;sharkidentificationguideavailable

Greynurseshark Designatedprotectedareas Alsoappliestocommercialfishing

Allsharks Maxsizeof1.5m;Possessionlimitof1

–



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Jurisdiction Speciesorspeciesgroup Controls Additionalinformation

SouthAustralia

Whiteshark Protectedbylegislation;notake


Schoolandgummyshark(combined)

Possessionlimitof2;boatlimitof6where3ormorepeopleinboat;minimumsizelimitsalsoapply

–

Allsharks Banonuseofwiretrace≥2mminconjunctionwithhooksized≥12/0

Inmetropolitanareasbanonuseoftrace≥1mmandhookswithshank˃56mmorgape˃23mm

WesternAustralia

Whalersharks(includingdusky,bronzewhaler,bullandtigersharks)

Maxsizelimitof70cminterdorsalfinlength

Mitigatesagainstconsumptionofheavymetals

Narrow,dwarf,freshwaterandgreensawfish;greynurse,white,speartooth,northernriverandwhaleshark



Totalpossessionlimitonfinfish Maximumquantityoffinfishlimitsthatincludeshark

Limittotaltakeoffinfish

Tasmania Schoolandgummyshark Minimumtotallength75cm(ifheadedandtailed45cm)


Schoolandgummy(combined) Bag/possessionlimitof2schoolorgummy

Usinggraballnetorsetline

Makoandblueshark Baglimitof1ofeither;Possessionlimitof2ofeither

–

Sharksandrays Baglimitof2;possessionlimitof4;boatlimit(allspecies)of5

Licencerestrictionsforsetlines,beachseineandgraballnets

White,basking(Cetorhinusmaximus),greynurse,whaleandmegamouthsharks(Megachasmapelagios)



NorthernTerritory

Allsharks Possessionlimitof3 Sharkidentificationguidesavailable

Northernriver(Glyphisgarricki)andspeartoothshark(G.glyphis),sawfishofthegenusPristis(exceptwidesawfishProtogygia.pectinata)



Sharks protected by legislation Alljurisdictionshavefisheriesmanagementandconservationlegislationthatestablishestheauthorityandmanagementframeworkstoprotectsharkspeciesofconservationormanagementconcern.Legislativerequirementsmaydirectamanagementagencytoimplementcertainmeasures(suchasstockrebuildingstrategies,catchlimitsorno‐takerestrictions)ortodeveloprecoveryplans.



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Somespeciesarelistedinmorethanonejurisdictionduetoabroaddistributionandpopulationstatusorthreatstothespeciesacrossjurisdictions.Forexample,thegreynursesharkisprotectedinsixofAustralia’seightjurisdictions.Table10showsAustraliansharkspeciesprotectedunderlegislationandtheirconservationstatusbyjurisdiction.



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Table 10 Listed shark species by jurisdiction

Speciesorspeciesgroup

Commonwealth NewSouthWales

NorthernTerritory

Queensland SouthAustralia

Tasmania Victoria WesternAustralia

Baskingshark – – – – – Protected – –

Dwarfsawfish Vulnerable – Notake Protected – – – Protected

Freshwatersawfish Vulnerable – Notake Protected – – – Protected

Greathammerhead – Vulnerable – – – – – –

Greensawfish Vulnerable Presumedextinct

Notake Protected – – – Protected

Greynurseshark East—criticallyendangered;west—vulnerable

Criticallyendangered

– Protected – Protected Threatened;protectedaquaticbiota

Protected

Maugeanskate(Zearajamaugeana)

Endangered – – – – Endangered – –

Megamouthshark – – – – – Protected – –

Narrowsawfish – – – Protected – – – Protected

Northernrivershark Endangered – Notake – – – – Protected

Sandtigershark(Odontaspisferox)

– Protected – – – – – –

Schoolshark Conservationdependent

– – – – – – –

Scallopedhammerhead

– Endangered – – – – – –

Speartoothshark Criticallyendangered

– Notake Protected – – – Protected

Whaleshark Vulnerable – – – – Protected – Protected

Whiteshark Vulnerable Vulnerable – Protected Protected Vulnerable Threatened;protectedaquaticbiota

Protected



23

Speciesorspeciesgroup

Commonwealth NewSouthWales

NorthernTerritory

Queensland SouthAustralia

Tasmania Victoria WesternAustralia

Whalershark(FamilyCarcharhinidae)

– – – – – – – Protectedover70cminter‐dorsallength

Allsharksandrays – – – – – – – Commerciallyprotectedfish(fishery‐specificexceptions)



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6 International instruments and agreements

AustraliasharesresponsibilityforthemanagementofstraddlingfishstockswithneighbouringcountriesintheAsia–Pacific,IndianOceanandSouthernOceanregions.Australiaengagesininternationalfisheriesissuesbilaterally,regionallyandglobally—topromotemoresustainablefisheriesmanagementpracticesworldwideandtoachievelong‐termandcommerciallyviableaccesstoregionalmigratoryandstraddlingstocksforAustralianfishers.

TheDepartmentofAgricultureandWaterResourcesdevelopspoliciesandprogramstoaddressAustralia’sinternationalrightsandobligations,andrepresentsAustralia’sinterestsinseveralinternationalforums.Theseinclude:

theCommissionfortheConservationofSouthernBluefinTuna(CCSBT), theConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpeciesofWildFaunaandFlora

(CITES), theConventionfortheConservationofAntarcticLivingMarineResources(CCAMLR), theConventionontheConservationofMigratorySpeciesofWildAnimals(CMS), theFoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations(FAO), theIndianOceanTunaCommission(IOTC), theSouthernIndianOceanFisheriesAgreement(SIOFA), theSouthPacificRegionalFisheriesManagementOrganisation(SPRFMO), theWesternandCentralPacificFisheriesCommission(WCPFC).

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Australiaisoneof183countriespartytotheConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpeciesofWildFaunaandFlora(CITES).TheCITEShelpstoensurethatinternationaltradedoesnotthreatenspecies.Itplacesspeciesintooneofthreecategories(appendixes)basedonconservationstatusandriskfromtrade.Traderestrictionsapplytoeachcategory.

CITESAppendixIlistsspeciesthreatenedwithextinctionthatare,ormaybe,affectedbytrade.Tradeinthesespeciesisusuallyprohibited.

CITESAppendixIIlistsspeciesthatarenotcurrentlythreatenedwithextinctionbutmightbeiftradeisnotstrictlycontrolledandmonitored.Thelistmayincludesomenon‐threatenedspecies—topreventthreatenedspeciesfrombeingtradedundertheguiseofnon‐threatenedspeciesthataresimilarinappearance.Tradeinthesespeciesmustbecoveredbyexportandimportpermits.

CITESAppendixIIIlistsspeciesthatanyCITESpartyhasidentifiedasbeingsubjecttoregulationinitsjurisdictiontopreventorrestrictexploitationandrequiresthecooperationofothercountriestocontroltrade.InAustralia,thesespeciesareusuallytreatedlikeaCITESAppendixIIspecies—thatis,theymustbecoveredbyexportandimportpermits.CITES‐listedsharkspeciesareprovidedinTable11.



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Table 11 Shark species covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

AppendixI AppendixII

Sawfishes(Pristidaespp.notincludedinAppendixII) Baskingshark,giantoceanicmantaray(Mantabirostris),greathammerhead,porbeagleshark,oceanicwhitetipshark,reefmantaray,scallopedhammerhead,smoothhammerhead(S.zygaena),whiteshark,whaleshark,freshwatersawfish

InternationaltradeinlistedspeciestakeninAustralianfisheriesmustbeunderpinnedbyanassessmentofsustainabilityundernationalenvironmentallegislation(theEPBCAct1999).Assessmentshavebeenundertakenforthethreehammerheadspecies,oceanicwhitetipandporbeaglesharkstakenindomesticfisheries.Appropriateharvestlevelsforthethreehammerheadsharkshavebeendetermined.However,oceanicwhitetipandporbeaglesharkscannotbeharvestedforexportinAustralia.

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals TheConventionontheConservationofMigratorySpeciesofWildAnimals(alsoknownastheCMSortheBonnConvention)isaninternationaltreatyconductedundertheUNEnvironmentProgram.Itaimstoconserveterrestrial,marineandavianmigratoryspeciesthroughouttheirrange.UnderArticleI(a):

‘Migratoryspecies’meanstheentirepopulationoranygeographicallyseparatepartofthepopulationofanyspeciesorlowertaxonofwildanimals,asignificantproportionofwhosememberscyclicallyandpredictablycrossoneormorenationaljurisdictionalboundaries.

AustraliaisapartytotheCMS.MigratoryspeciesthreatenedwithextinctionarelistedinCMSAppendixI.MigratoryspeciesthatneedorwouldsignificantlybenefitfrominternationalcooperationarelistedinCMSAppendixII.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) provides that all species listed in CMS appendixes are to be listed as migratory species under the Act and therefore considered matters of national environmental significance. It is an offence under section 254 of the EPBC Act to kill, injure, take, trade, keep or move a member of a listed migratory or marine species in a Commonwealth area unless the action is covered by a permit issued by the Minister for the Environment and Energy or is otherwise exempt. Listed species are shown in

Table12.



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Table 12 Shark species covered by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals

AppendixI,Migratoryspeciesthreatenedwithextinction

AppendixII,Migratoryspeciesthatneedorwouldsignificantlybenefitfrominternationalcooperation

Angleshark,Atlanticdevilray(Mobulahypostoma),Baskingshark(Cetorhinusmaximus),Bentfindevilray(Mobulathurstoni),Boxray(Mobulatarapacana),Commonguitarfish(Rhinobatosrhinobatos)a,,DwarfSawfish,Giantdevilray(Mobulamobular),Giantoceanicmantaray(Mantabirostris),GreenSawfish,Japanesedevilray(Mobulajaponica),LargetoothSawfish,LesserGuineandevilray(Mobularochebrunei),Munksdevilray(Mobulamunkiana),NarrowSawfish,Pigmydevilray(Mobulaeregoodtenkee),Reefmantaray(Mantaalfredi),Shortfindevilray(Mobulakuhlii),SmalltoothSawfish,Whaleshark(Rhincodontypus),Whiteshark(Carcharodoncarcharias),

Angleshark,Atlanticdevilray(Mobulahypostoma),Baskingshark,Bentfindevilray,Bigeyethreshershark,Blueshark,Boxray,Commonguitarfish,Commonthreshershark(A.vulpinus),DuskyShark,DwarfSawfish,Giantdevilray,Giantoceanicmantaray,Greathammerhead,GreenSawfish,Japanesedevilray,LargetoothSawfish,LesserGuineandevilray,Longfinmako(Iruruspaucus),Munksdevilray,NarrowSawfish,Pelagicthreshershark(A.pelagicus),Pigmydevilray,Porbeagle,Reefmantaray,Scallopedhammerhead,Shortfindevilray,Shortfinmako,Silkyshark,SmalltoothSawfish,Spinydogfish(Squalusacanthias)b,Whaleshark,Whiteshark,White‐spottedwedgefish(Rhynchobatusaustraliae).

a,ListingappliestoMediterraneanSeapopulationbListingappliestonorthernhemispherepopulation.



27

Conclusion ThisreportaddressesthesustainabilityandmanagementofAustraliansharkstocksandwillinformthedevelopmentofthenextAustralianNationalPlanofActionfortheConservationandManagementofSharkStocks(NPOA‒Sharks).TheobjectiveoftheInternationalPlanofActionforConservationandManagementofSharks(IPOA‒Sharks)istoensuretheconservationandmanagementofsharksandtheirlong‐termsustainableuse.TheFoodandAgricultureOrganization(FAO)oftheUnitedNationsstatesthatthegoalofasharkplanisto:

1. ensurethatsharkcatchesfromdirectedandnon‐directedfisheriesaresustainable

2. assessthreatstosharkpopulations,determineandprotectcriticalhabitatsandimplementharvestingstrategiesconsistentwiththeprinciplesofbiologicalsustainabilityandrationallong‐termeconomicuse

3. identifyandprovidespecialattention,inparticulartovulnerableorthreatenedsharkstocks

4. improveanddevelopframeworksforestablishingandcoordinatingeffectiveconsultationinvolvingallstakeholdersinresearch,managementandeducationalinitiativeswithinandbetweenStates

5. minimizeunutilizedincidentalcatchesofsharks

6. contributetotheprotectionofbiodiversityandecosystemstructureandfunction

7. minimizewasteanddiscardsfromsharkcatchesinaccordancewitharticle7.2.2.(g)oftheCodeofConductforResponsibleFisheries(forexample,requiringtheretentionofsharksfromwhichfinsareremoved)

8. encouragefulluseofdeadsharks

9. facilitateimprovedspecies‐specificcatchandlandingsdataandmonitoringofsharkcatches

10. facilitatetheidentificationandreportingofspecies‐specificbiologicalandtradedata.

Thesearelargelyincrementalgoalsthatfocusoncontinualimprovement.TheinformationpresentedinthisreportestablishesthatthesegoalsareactivelybeingpursuedinAustralia.

Australiahasveryfewcommercialfisheriesthattargetsharks.Mostsharkcatchistheresultofnon‐targetedfishing.Thekeyspecieshavebeenassessedwithmostbeingassessedas‘sustainable’(Stewardsonetal.2016).Asmallnumberofspeciesorstocksareconsideredeitheroverfishedordepletedbeyonddesirablelevels.However,mostofthesehavebeenprotectedandmanagementmeasureshavebeenestablishedtorecoverthespeciesorstocks.

Alljurisdictionshaveconsultativeforumsthatinvolverelevantstakeholdersinthedevelopmentofadviceformanagement.Someroleswithintheseforumsrequirespecificskillsets(suchasthedevelopmentandexecutionofstatisticalstockassessmentmodels).

ThebulkofsharkcatchinAustralianfisheriesistakenasbycatchorbyproduct.NoAustralianjurisdictioncondonesthewastageofunwantedsharkstakenincommercialfisheriesandallimplementsomeformofmanagementorcontrolaimedatminimisingthetakeorwastageofsharks.Theuseofbycatchreductiondevicesand/orgearcontrolsthatreduceunwantedsharkcatchandwastageiswidespread.



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AllAustralianjurisdictionsreportatleastsomesharkcatchundernon‐speciesspecificgrouporcatch‐allcodes.Codescommonlyusedinclude‘othershark’or‘unspecifiedshark’.Assuch,alljurisdictionscouldimprovetheresolutionoftheircatchdata.However,thecostsandbenefitsofincreasingspeciesresolutionwillalwaysbeaconsiderationforfisheriesmanagement.

ThepoolofknowledgeonthebiologicalcharacteristicsofsharksinAustraliacontinuestoincrease.Everyyearseesmoreinvestmentinabetterunderstandingofthemarineenvironmentandthefactorsinfluencingit(includingfishing).Australia’s2012NPOA—Sharksidentifiedresearchprioritiesandfutureplansshouldcontinuethistradition.

RegularproductionofasharkassessmentreportandreportingassociatedwithimplementationoftheNPOA‒Sharksareimportantbutresource‐intensiveaspectsofsharkmanagementacrossAustralia.TheefficiencyandeffectivenessoftheseprocessesshouldbemaximisedtodeliveronthegoalsoftheIPOA‒Sharksinacosteffectiveway.

ThestandardofAustralianfisheriesmanagementprocessesiswidelyacknowledgedtobehigh,andAustraliacanalreadyshowithasdeliveredagainstthegoalsoftheIPOA‒Sharks.However,theIPOA‒SharksandNPOA‒SharksarenotconsideredtobeprimarydriversforAustralia’smanagementofsharkstocks.Otherjurisdictional,nationalandinternationalpracticesandprocesseshavealargerbearingonday‐to‐daysharkmanagementacrossAustralia.AnupdatedNPOA‒Sharksshouldacknowledgeexistingprocessesandpracticesandfocusonareasnotalreadycoveredbyday‐to‐daypractices.AnupdatedNPOA‒Sharksshouldfocusonareaswhereitcanofferapointofdifferenceandprovidebenefits.

MembersoftheSRGaremostlikelybestplacedtoidentifythefocalpointsofthenextNPOA.However,possibleareasmayincludemonitoringanddatacollection,researchprioritisation,mutuallybeneficialresearchandimprovedcoordinationinthemanagementofsharedstocks.



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Appendix: Status classes for Status of Australian Fish Stocks 2016 Statusclass Definition

Sustainable Biomass(orbiomassproxy)isatalevelsufficienttoensurethat,onaverage,futurelevelsofrecruitmentareadequate(thatis,thestockisnotrecruitmentoverfished)andthatfishingpressureisadequatelycontrolledtoavoidthestockbecomingrecruitmentoverfished.

Transitionalrecovering Biomassisrecruitmentoverfished,butmanagementmeasuresareinplacetopromotestockrecovery,andrecoveryisoccurring.

Transitionaldepleting Biomassisnotyetrecruitmentoverfished,butfishingpressureistoohighandmovingthestockinthedirectionofbecomingrecruitmentoverfished.

Overfished Spawningstockbiomasshasbeenreducedthroughcatch,sothataveragerecruitmentlevelsaresignificantlyreduced(thatis,thestockisrecruitmentoverfished).Currentmanagementisnotadequatetorecoverthestock;oradequatemanagementmeasureshavebeenputinplacebuthavenotyetresultedinmeasurableimprovements.

Environmentallylimited Spawningstockbiomasshasbeenreducedtothepointwhereaveragerecruitmentlevelsaresignificantlyreduced,primarilyasaresultofsubstantialenvironmentalchangesordiseaseoutbreaks(thatis,thestockisnotrecruitmentoverfished).Fisheriesmanagementhasrespondedappropriatelytotheenvironmentalchangeinproductivity.

Undefined Insufficientinformationexiststodeterminestockstatus.

Negligible Catchesbyallfisheriesaresolowastobeconsiderednegligible,andthatinadequateinformationexistsuponwhichtobaseastatusclassification.



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Butcher,P,Peddemors,V,Mandelman,J,McGrath,S&Cullis,B2015,‘At‐vesselmortalityandbloodbiochemicalstatusofelasmobranchscaughtinanAustraliancommerciallonglinefishery’,GlobalEcologyandConservation,vol.3,pp.878–889.

Curruthers,EH,SchnieiderDC&NeilsonJD2009,‘Estimatingtheoddsofsurvivalandidentifyingmitigationopportunitiesforcommonbycatchinpelagiclonglinefisheries’,BiologicalConservation,vol.142,pp.2620–2630.

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Finn,M,Flood,M,Stobutzki,I,Maloney,L,Ward,P,Andrews,J,Begg,G,Fletcher,R,Gardner,C,Roelofs,A,Sainsbury,K,Saunders,T,Stewart,J,&Smith,T2015,‘StatusofkeyAustralianfishstocks(SAFS)reports2014andbeyond’,ProjectNo.2014/030.FisheriesResearchandDevelopmentCorporation,Canberra.

Flood,M,Stobutzki,I,Andrews,J,Ashby,C,Begg,G,Fletcher,W,Gardner,C,Gibson,B,Gray,C,Hone,P,Horvat,P,Kemp,J,McDonald,B,Moore,A,O’Brien,A,Quinn,R,Roach,J,Rowling,K,Sainsbury,K,Saunders,T,Sloan,S,Smith,T,Ward,T&Winning,M2013,‘Statusofkey



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Hobday,AJ,Smith,A,Webb,H,Daley,R,Wayte,S,Bulman,C,Dowdney,J,Williams,A,Sporcic,M,Dambacher,J,Fuller,M&Walker,T2007,‘EcologicalRiskAssessmentfortheEffectsofFishing:Methodology’,AustralianFisheriesManagementAuthority,Canberra.

Lyle,JM,Stark,KE&Tracy,SR2014,‘2012‐13SurveyofRecreationalFishinginTasmania’,InstituteforMarineandAntarcticStudies,UniversityofTasmania,Hobart.

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Pears,RJ,Morison,AK,Jebreen,EJ,Dunning,M,Pitcher,CR,Courtney,AJ,Houlden,B&Jacobsen,IP2012,‘EcologicalriskassessmentoftheEastCoastOtterTrawlFisheryintheGreatBarrierReefMarinePark:technicalreport’,GreatBarrierReefMarineParkAuthority,Townsville.

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QueenslandGovernmentDepartmentofAgricultureandFisheries2016.SharkControlProgramcatchstatistics.QueenslandDepartmentofAgricultureandFisheries,Brisbane.

Ryan,KL,Hall,NG,Lai,EK,Smallwood,CB,Taylor,SM&Wise,BS2015,‘State‐widesurveyofboat‐basedrecreationalfishinginWesternAustralia2013/14’,DepartmentofFisheries,WesternAustralia.

Salini,J,McAuley,R,Blaber,S,Buckworth,R,Chidlow,J,Gribble,N,Ovenden,J,Peverell,S,Pillans,R,Stevens,J,Stobutzki,I,Tarca,C&Walker,T2007,‘NorthernAustralianSharksandRays:TheSustainabilityofTargetandBycatchSpecies,Phase2’,FisheriesResearchandDevelopmentCorporationandCSIROMarineandAtmosphericResearch,Hobart.

Saunders,T&Carne,2010,‘Asurveyofcustomaryfishingofsharksandstingrays,GrooteEylandt’,NorthernTerritoryGovernment,Darwin.

Simpfendorfer,C,Chin,A,Kyne,P,Rigby,C,Sherman,S,&White,W(forthcoming),‘AReportCardforAustralia’sSharks’,FisheriesResearchandDevelopmentCorporation,Canberra.



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Stewardson,C,Andrews,J,Ashby,C,Haddon,M,Hartmann,K,Hone,P,Horvat,P,Mayfield,S,Roelofs,A,Sainsbury,K,Saunders,T,Stewart,J,StobutzkiI,&Wise,W(eds)2016,StatusofAustralianfishstocksreports2016,FisheriesResearchandDevelopmentCorporation,Canberra.

Stobutzki,I,StevensJ,MillerM,SaliniJ,JonesP,DengR,FryG,TarantoT,McAuleyR,BuckworthR,Gribble,N,McPherson,G&McLoughlin,K2003,‘ThesustainabilityofnorthernAustraliansharksandrays’,FinalreporttoEnvironmentAustralia,Canberra.

Tobin,AJ,Simpfendorfer,CA,Mapleston,A,Currey,L,Harry,AV,Welch,DJ,Ballagh,AC,Chin,A,Szczenski,N,Schlaff,A,White,J&Moore,B2010,‘AquantitativeecologicalriskassessmentofsharksandfinfishofGreatBarrierReefWorldHeritageAreainshorewaters:Atoolforfisheriesandmarineparkmanagers:Relativeriskofspeciesandpotentialmitigationstrategiesfortheeastcoastinshorefinfishfishery’,MarineandTropicalSciencesResearchFacility,Cairns.

Walker,TI,Stevens,JD,Braccini,JM,Daley,RK,Huveneers,C,Irvine,SB,Bell,JD,Tovar‐Avila,J,Trinnie,FI,Phillips,DT,Treloar,MA,Awruck,CA,Gason,AS,Salini,J&Hamlett,WC2008,‘RapidAssessmentofsustainabilityforecologicalriskofsharkandotherchondricthyianbycatchspeciesharvestedintheSouthernandEasternScalefishandSharkFishery’,FisheriesResearchandDevelopmentCorporation,Canberra.

West,LD,Stark,KE,Murphy,JJ,Lyle,JM,&Ochwada‐Doyle,FA2015,‘SurveyofRecreationalFishinginNewSouthWalesandtheACT,2013/14’,FisheriesFinalReportSeriesNo149,NewSouthWalesDepartmentofPrimaryIndustries.

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WCPFC2015,‘Indicator‐basedanalysisofthestatusofshortfinmakosharkinthenorthPacificOcean’,ScientificCommitteeoftheWesternandCentralPacificFisheriesCommission.

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WCPFC2017c,‘Pacific‐widesustainabilityriskassessmentofbigeyethreshershark(Alopiassuperciliosus)’,ScientificCommitteeoftheWesternandCentralPacificFisheriesCommission.

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Further reading on post‐release survival Afonso,A&Hazin,F2014,JournalofExperimentalMarineBiologyandEcology454(2014)55–62.

Barnes,C,Butcher,P,Macbeth,W,Mandelman,J,Smith,S&Peddemors,V2016,‘MovementsandmortalityoftwocommerciallyexploitedcarcharhinidsharksfollowinglonglinecaptureandreleaseoffeasternAustralia’,Endangeredspeciesresearch,vol.30,pp.193–208.

Braccini,M,Rijn,J&Frick,L2012,‘HighPost‐CaptureSurvivalforSharks,RaysandChimaerasDiscardedintheMainSharkFisheryofAustralia’?PLoSONE7(2):e32547.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0032547.

Butcher,P,Peddemors,V,Mandelman,J,McGrathS&Cullis,B2015,‘At‐vesselmortalityandbloodbiochemicalstatusofelasmobranchscaughtinanAustraliancommerciallonglinefishery’,GlobalEcologyandConservation,vol.3,pp.878–889.

Campana,S,Joyce,W&Manning,M2009,‘BycatchanddiscardmortalityincommerciallycaughtbluesharksPrionaceglaucaassessedusingarchivalsatellitepop‐uptags’,MarineEcologyProgressSeries,vol.387,pp.241–253.

Carruthers,E,Schneider,D&Neilson,J2009,‘Estimatingtheoddsofsurvivalandidentifyingmitigationopportunitiesforcommonbycatchinpelagiclonglinefisheries’,BiologicalConservation,vol.142,pp.2620–2630.

deFaria,F2012,‘RecreationalfishingofsharksintheGreatBarrierReefWorldHeritageArea:speciescompositionandincidentalcapturestress;’,Master’s(Research)thesis,JamesCookUniversity.Townsville.

Eddy,C,Brill,R&Bernal,D2015,‘Ratesofat‐vesselmortalityandpost‐releasesurvivalofpelagicsharkscapturedwithtunapurseseinesarounddriftingfishaggregatingdevices(FADs)intheequatorialeasternPacificOcean’,FisheriesResearch,vol.174,pp.109–117.

Ellis,JR,McCullyPhillipsSR&Poisson,F2017,‘Areviewofcaptureandpost‐releasemortalityofelasmobranchs’,JournalofFishBiology,vol.90/3,pp.653‐722.

Frick,L,Reina,R&Walker,T2010,‘Stressrelatedphysiologicalchangesandpost‐releasesurvivalofPortJacksonsharks(Heterodontusportusjacksoni)andgummysharks(Mustelusantarcticus)followinggill‐netandlonglinecaptureincaptivity’,JournalofExperimentalMarineBiologyandEcology,vol.385,ppo.29–37.

Heberer,C,Aalbers,S,Bernal,D,Kohin,S,DiFiore,B&Sepulveda,C2010,‘Insightsintocatch‐and‐releasesurvivorshipandstress‐inducedbloodbiochemistryofcommonthreshersharks(Alopiasvulpinus)capturedinthesouthernCaliforniarecreationalfishery’,FisheriesResearch,vol.106,pp.495–500.



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Hutchinson,M,Itano,D,Muir,J&Holland,K2015,‘Post‐releasesurvivalofjuvenilesilkysharkscapturedinatropicaltunapurseseinefishery’,MarineEcologyProgressSeries,vol.521,pp.143–154.

Mandelman,J&Farrington,M2007,‘Theestimatedshort‐termdiscardmortalityofatrawledelasmobranch,thespinydogfish(Squalusacanthias)’,FisheriesResearch,vol.83,pp.238–245.

French,R,Lyle,J,Tracey,S,Currie,S&Semmens,J2015,‘Postreleasesurvivalofcapturedmakosharks;Contributingtodevelopmentofbestpracticeforcatchandreleasegamefishing’,InstituteforMarineandAntarcticStudies,UniversityofTasmania,Hobart.

Skomal,G&Mandelman,J2012,‘Thephysiologicalresponsetoanthropogenicstressorsinmarineelasmobranchfishes:Areviewwithafocusonthesecondaryresponse’,ComparativeBiochemistryandPhysiology,PartA162,pp.146–155.

Shark assessment report 2018 - Department of Agriculture · Between 2006–07 and 2014–15 total commercial shark catch in Australia declined substantially (Table 1). In 2006–07

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