South Australia has introduced landmark measures to protect vulnerable shark and ray species, setting a new national standard for marine conservation. These changes, set to take effect from December 16th, are designed to combat overfishing, prevent inhumane treatment, and provide greater protections for marine wildlife in the state’s waters.
The new regulations follow years of advocacy from The Shark and Ray Coalition, a group comprising conservationists, researchers, scuba divers, and snorkellers. Their efforts were instrumental in bringing about these changes, after presenting a detailed submission to the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) in 2022.
Under the new rules, recreational and commercial fishers will be prohibited from taking certain endangered and critically endangered shark and ray species, including the Whitefin Swellshark, Oceanic Whitetip Shark, and Green Sawfish. A combined bag limit will be set for recreational fishers targeting vulnerable species like the Common Thresher, Shortfin Mako, and Hammerhead Shark.
There will also be size limits that will be introduced for five ray species, including the Southern Eagle Ray and Smooth Stingray, and all fishers will be prohibited from intentionally damaging or mutilating non-noxious aquatic resources. There will also be restrictions on certain fishing practices, including the ongoing ban on taking White Sharks and existing limits on metropolitan shark fishing.
These changes address public concerns over the treatment of sharks and rays, especially those incidentally caught, and respond to instances of cruelty, such as the recent case of a Southern Eagle Ray being harmed at Brighton Beach. The community has been vocal about the need for stricter protections for these species, with some advocating for regulations similar to those protecting terrestrial animals.
The new regulations will be supported by potential fines of up to $20,000 for violations. The measures will apply to all 77 species of sharks, rays, and chimaeras found in South Australian waters, with varying levels of protection depending on the species. Some species will face total fishing bans, while others will have strict daily catch limits. Notably, 12 species of skates and stingarees, previously unprotected, will now be included under these new regulations.
“Sharks and rays play an important role in our aquatic ecosystem and as such are of high conservation concern,” Clare Scriven, Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, said.
“We have heard the concerns raised by stakeholders and the broader community about the risk of unsustainable fishing practices and mishandling of incidentally caught sharks and rays and these legislative amendments will ensure greater protections are place.”
South Australia’s move to introduce these new protections is a major milestone in the protection of marine life. “I am thrilled that PIRSA has been so supportive and helped get these new rules passed to protect our marine wildlife,” Chloe Roberts, a marine biology PhD candidate and active member of the Shark and Ray Coalition, said.
The government, alongside the Shark and Ray Coalition, will launch a comprehensive communication plan to educate fishers about the new regulations and encourage best practices for releasing non-target or protected species safely back into the ocean.
For more information on the new regulations, visit the PIRSA website: https://pir.sa.gov.au/sharks-rays-fishing.
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