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.

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

The following changes were enacted on 16 December 2024:

• 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
  • Greynurse Shark
  • all stingaree species of genus Urolophus (including Coastal Stingaree)
  • 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
  • School Shark.
• Recreational fishers will have a combined bag limit of 2 for the following specified shark and ray species, and all other shark and ray species not otherwise listed:
  • Gummy Shark
  • Port Jackson Shark
  • Southern Eagle Ray
  • Southern Fiddler Ray
  • Western Shovelnose Ray
  • Wobbegong – Cobbler, Banded, Spotted.
• Recreational fishers will be subject to maximum size limits for 5 ray species:
  • Southern Eagle Ray
  • Smooth Stingray
  • Black Stingray
  • Southern Fiddler Ray
  • Western Shovelnose Ray.
• 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 see Fishing for sharks and rays.