The South Australian Government has placed a fishing ban on five of its endangered endemic species of shark and rays, including the whitefin swellshark, longnose skate, greeneye spurdog, grey skate, and coastal stingaree, setting a new precedent and leading the country in its overall approach to shark protection.

The five species are found only in Australian waters and are considered to be among the most endangered species of sharks and rays in the world. Yet, despite being acknowledged as ‘Endangered’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the Australian Government is yet to establish nation-wide protections.

The new rules will place a ban on the fishing of the five endangered species of rays and sharks in waters around South Australia. Beyond these state waters, however, (just 5km offshore) and the species will once again be able to be fished. 

The Australian Marine Conservation Society notes that these critically endangered species are particularly vulnerable to fishing from Commonwealth-managed trawl and hook fisheries. Several species, such as the greeneye spurdog, reach as far as New South Wales, where they are similarly vulnerable to state-managed fisheries.

Australia has 13 endangered endemic sharks and rays – found only in Australian waters. Many of the country’s shark and ray species are little-known, while several are facing extinction because of fishing pressures, with population declines of up to 90%.

“These species are unique to Australia for the same reason as many of our land animals are – they evolved in isolation over millions of years. Just as mountain ranges or deserts might separate land animals, so too do deep ocean trenches and vast basins,” said Australian Marine Conservation Society shark scientist, Dr Leonardo Guida.

“These endemic species found only in Australia, are as unique as a koala and in just as much trouble, if not worse.

“It’s encouraging to see South Australia taking the lead to protect our threatened sharks and rays and it bodes well for the future of not just the sustainability of SA-managed fisheries but the recovery of our most unique and endangered species. 

“Extinction in Australian Waters would be a global extinction event, and cause the loss of tens of millions of years of unique shark and ray evolutionary history.”

While the world’s leading endangered species agency, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has declared these species ‘endangered’, the Australian Government has still not declared them under the country’s own national nature laws – the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

They are currently being assessed after both the Humane Society International Australia and Australian Marine Conservation Society nominated them for listing. Together, they have suggested the whitefin swellshark and longnose skate be listed as Critically Endangered, and the greeneye spurdog and grey skate be listed as Endangered.

An EPBC endangered listing would require Australian fisheries to significantly improve measures to ensure the species are on the path to recovery, such as cameras on all fishing boats to monitor catches so crucial data can be collected, identifying ‘hotspots’ where these species live so fisheries can avoid them.

Commonwealth and New South Wales trawlers are not currently required to have cameras, although the Commonwealth fishery has started limited trials.

Lawrence Chlebeck, a marine biologist with the Humane Society International Australia, said: “It’s great these sharks and ray species are now protected in South Australia, but it’s alarming that outside the state’s waters, these species can be legally caught and sold for their meat, commonly referred to as ‘flake’ in your fish and chips.

“Earlier this year, DNA results found that endangered greeneye spurdog was sold as flake in a Victorian fish shop.

“We expect a decision by the Australian Government whether to declare these species endangered before March 2026, but the sooner the better. It’s crucial that the federal environment minister heeds scientific advice and recommendations in full when it comes to supporting these species to recover.”

Sharks and rays play a crucial role in ocean environment and their removal would bring serious disruption to a fragile food chain and ecosystem. The wider impact of this would be in the availability and price of seafood for many Australians.

“The Australian and New South Wales governments are now going to have to play catch up to protect these species and fix their fisheries,” said Dr Guida. “Sharks and rays don’t recognise any borders so it’s crucial for all jurisdictions to get on board and ensure threatened endemic species have the best chance possible at recovery.”  

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