UPDATES TO SHARK & RAY MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Through extensive communications with industry, recreational fishers, community groups, and researchers, we are proud to announce the implementation of the following rules for sharks and rays in South Australia.
If you see anyone violating these rules, please contact Fishwatch on 1800 065 522
Violations of these arrangements could result in a maximum penalty of $20,000
| Zero take limit for endangered and critically endangered species in South Australia |
These species are listed as critically endangered or endangered on the IUCN Red List. These species are at a high risk of extinction.
- Whitefin swellshark (Cephaloscyllium albipinnum)
- Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)
- Green sawfish (Pristis zijsron)
- Grey nurse shark (Carcharias taurus)
- Greeneye spurdog (Squalus chloroculus)
- Southern dogfish (Centrophorus uyato)
- Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus)
- All stingaree species in the Urolophus genus (six)
- All skate species in the Dipturus and Dentiraja genus (six)
| New limits for other South Australian species of conservation concern |
There is now a 1 daily bag limit, 3 daily boat limit (when three or more fishers are fishing from a boat), and 1 per passenger per trip limit when fishing from a charter boat for these species. This is a combined limit for all species listed below.
- Common thresher (Alopias vulpinus)
- Broadnose sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus)
- Smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena)
- Black stingray (Bathytoshia lata)
- Bigeye thresher (Alopias superciliosus)
- Bronze whaler (Carcharhinus brachyurus)
- Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)
- School shark (Galeorhinus galeus) * Whilst school shark is critically endangered, allowing a take of 1 recognises the current conservation rebuilding strategy that is in place.
- Dusky whaler (Carcharhinus obscurus)
- Smooth stingray (Bathytoshia brevicaudata) * included here due to difficulties distinguishing from black stingray
| Limits for all other shark, batoid (rays, skates, and stingarees), and chimaera (ghost shark) species |
All other shark, batoid (rays, skates, and stingarees), and chimaera (ghost shark) species (excluding the above and protected species) now have a recreational fishing limit of 2 daily bag, and 6 daily boat limit based on three fishers or more fishing from the boat or 1 per passenger per trip when fishing from a charter boat. This is also a combined limit.
| New maximum size limits for rays |
Maximum size limits of 100 cm disc width for:
- Smooth stingray (Bathytoshia brevicaudata)
- Black stingray (Bathytoshia lata)
- Southern eagle ray (Myliobatis tenuicaudatus)
Maximum size limits of 80 cm total length for:
- Southern fiddler ray (Trygonorrhina dumerilii)
- Western shovelnose ray (Aptychotrema vincentiana)
| New anti-cruelty laws for South Australian sharks and rays |
The intentional damage/mutilation of non-noxious aquatic species is prohibited - see the noxious species list for species not included under this rule.
| THESE NEW REGULATIONS PROVIDE SOME SAFETY FOR OUR SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SHARKS AND RAYS AND LEAD THE COUNTRY'S CONSERVATION EFFORTS FOR THESE ANIMALS. |
These rules are being implemented under the Fisheries Management (General) Regulations 2017, which forms part of the Fisheries Management Act 2007.
For more details on the rules being implemented and the fines for violating these rules, see PIRSA Fishing Rules (updates relating to these new arrangements are ongoing)