SAFE HANDLING OF SHARKS & RAYS

If these animals are caught, either on purpose or as bycatch, it is paramount to their survival that they are returned to the water as safely and quickly as possible.

If you see an animal in distress or someone poorly treating a marine animal, contact Fishwatch on 1800 065 522

If you are likely to catch a shark or ray, it is your responsibility to be adequately educated in how to handle the animal and release it back into the water. Great resources on how to handle sharks and rays can be found at:

Shark and ray handling practices

Recreational fishing for sharks and rays

The Ikijime site for the humane killing of fish can be useful for determining how to quickly and ethically kill a fish for harvest.

Below is a few tips for handling, however we urge you to do further research and not rely solely on the information presented here.

Keep the animals in the water (e.g. alongside the boat) where possible. Return animals as quickly as possible to the water if removed. Knotless nets are valuable tools for handling smaller sharks and rays.

Always have multiple points of contact with the animal when moving, so as not to put too much pressure on any one part of the animal (e.g. sharks vertebrae can be damaged if lifted solely by the tail). 

Take care to avoid the eyes, gills, mouth, any potential spines on their fins (for example, the Port Jackson shark has non-venomous spines on its dorsal fins), and stingray barbs. Even small sharks can deliver painful and dangerous bites. Remove hooks if possible with needle-nosed pliers, however if the hook cannot be removed without injury to the animal, the line or hook should be cut. Make sure you are using corrodible hooks to allow these hooks to rust away and dislodge from the animals' mouth. 

Small, tired animals can get stuck in the wave zone after release, so where possible, guide them past the waves.

Smaller sharks can be handled by grasping the trunk near their tail and body around the pectoral fins. Release back into the water right-side up, and allow the shark to swim away, they may need a few seconds to initially swim off. Do not throw them back into the water.

Small rays can be handled by grasping their wings, however rays are coated in a thick mucous layer (which is part of their immune system and helps protect them from bacteria and parasites) so they can be difficult to handle. Using towels to gain traction, or using their spiracles (vestigial gill openings behind their eyes) to move them is sometimes necessary, however take care to not put too much pressure on their spiracles and try to lift from the bottom. Release them into the water right-side up, and allow to swim off.

If you happen to get injured from a stingray barb, use very hot water (as hot as possible without scalding the skin), and seek medical attention immediately as barbs can become embedded in the skin.

For larger animals, sometimes it is better to lose some gear than put an animal through extensive stress to try and land it and remove hooks. This is another reason it is important to use corrodible hooks. If you do happen to land a large shark or ray, it's best to have multiple people ready for handling. Many sharks are very mobile and able to quickly turn and deliver a bite, so always be wary of their mouth. Guide large sharks back into the water via control of their body behind the pectoral fins and their tail, using ropes if necessary to avoid injury. For large rays use a mat or towel under the ray to gain traction and pull back into the water.

If any marine animal is out of the water for more than a minute or so, rehydrate them with seawater and flush water directly over their gills to facilitate their breathing. Cover with a wet towel if in harsh, direct sunlight. Do not use gaffs or other sharp tools on sharks and rays, they are sentient animals with the capacity to feel pain and stress.

This information is purely for educational purposes, and while we endeavor to provide accurate and up-to-date information on this site, please seek other sources of information before implementing any recommendations given here.