The state government has introduced new rules for shark and ray fishing aimed at protecting vulnerable species from overfishing and preventing inhumane treatment.

The changes were recommended by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) following consultation with various key stakeholders, including those in recreational fishing and conservation, after concerns were raised by the community about the treatment of sharks and rays incidentally caught throughout the state.

PIRSA says although rare, there have been instances of deliberate mutilation, and these kinds of practices are not acceptable, and these new measures will support the protection of vulnerable species.

The changes, which have been implemented from today, Monday 16 December, are: 

• Recreational and commercial fishers will be prohibited from taking the following specified endangered or critically endangered shark and ray species: Whitefin Swellshark, Oceanic Whitetip Shark, Green Sawfish, Greeneye Spurdog, Southern Dogfish, Basking Shark, Grey Nurse Shark, all stingaree species of genus Urolophus (including Coastal Stingaree) and all skate species of genus Dipturus or Dentiraja (including Grey Skate).
• Recreational fishers will have a combined bag limit of one for the following specified vulnerable shark and ray species: Common Thresher, Shortfin Mako, Melbourne Skate, Broadnose Sevengill Shark, Hammerhead Shark, Smooth Stingray, Black Stingray, Bigeye Thresher, Bronze Whaler, Dusky Whaler, and School Shark.
• Recreational fishers will have a combined bag limit of two for other shark and ray species.
• Recreational fishers will be subject to maximum size limits for five ray species (Southern Eagle Ray, Smooth Stingray, Black Stingray, Southern Fiddler Ray and Western Shovelnose Ray), and
• Commercial and recreational fishers will be prohibited from the intentional damage and mutilation of non-noxious aquatic resources that aren’t being retained.

The prohibition on taking White Shark, as a protected species, remains, as do existing maximum hook and metropolitan shark fishing restrictions.

For more information about the changes visit the PIRSA website. 

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven says sharks and rays play an important role in the aquatic ecosystem and are of high conservation concern. 

“The ethical and humane treatment of sharks and rays is vital to their survival and conservation and of interest to the broader community. 

Deputy Chair of RecFishSA Barry Brown says his organisation supports the ethical and humane treatment of all aquatic species, including sharks and rays, as do the vast majority of recreational fishers. 

“Inappropriate handling of sharks and rays is unacceptable, and the proposed new regulations should make this evident to the very small minority who mistreat these species. 

“Most caught sharks and rays are released, and RecFishSA recommends that they be released quickly and unharmed. There is no excuse for mutilating these creatures.

“While the new regulations are being introduced to protect allegedly vulnerable species, RecFishSA has advised PIRSA Fisheries that species such as school shark, bronze whaler and Mako sharks needed to be retained, and this has now been included in the proposed new regulations.”