Releasing sharks, rays and sawfish

Queensland's aquatic and coastal species are baring the brunt of our ever expanding use of oceans and water bodies. Although many people do care about wildlife, it seems that the message isn't reaching everyone. The careless use of our oceans, beaches and waterways has a direct impact on many threatened species. However, slight changes in human behaviour can make a real difference to threatened species.

Queensland has some of the best fishing in the world. Fishers can enjoy perfect weather and a huge variety of fish in the rich tropical and sub-tropical waters. But despite this abundance of marine life human activities such as destruction of habitats and irresponsible fishing is causing some sharks, rays and sawfish to become threatened.

Caught and killed

Animals killed after being caught by fishing does not allow them to breed and restock the population. Landing a threatened shark or sawfish as a trophy, or cutting off the tail of an estuary stingray, removes them from already small populations. Without those threatened sharks, rays and sawfish in the water and breeding, they will not be around for future fishers.

How can I help?

You can make a difference by releasing caught sharks, rays and sawfish.

If you have a stingray or sawfish on the line cut off the trace/line and set it free. The barbed tail of stingrays, and the jagged rostrum of sawfish, makes them too dangerous to handle.
If you have a shark on the line:
- Take care of yourself. Only attempt to lift a shark onboard a boat if it is smaller then 1.3 metres. If it is longer then 1.3 metres, cut off the trace/line and set it free. If you do attempt to lift in onboard, use a wet towel to protect yourself and the animal. Lifting large sharks can cause internal damage to the shark. At all times make sure all your body parts are well away from a shark's mouth. Check that any bystanders are standing well back.
- Take care of the animal. Avoid long playing times, as they are not needed to bring a shark in. If you do attempt to lift it onboard, lift by the tail wrist, using the other hand to support the animal under the body near the pectoral fin. When holding a shark onboard, hold it down behind the first and second dorsal fins to stop your hands slipping towards the mouth. Don't put too much pressure on the animal, as that can squash the internal organs.
- Take the hook out. If your hook has a barb, use bolt-cutters to remove the barb, and then pliers or a hook-removing device to remove the hook.
- Take the animal back to the water. Release the animal back into the water as soon as possible.
Use non-stainless steel hooks that rust and drop off if the trace/line is cut. Stainless steel hooks do not rust and cause continuous injuries for the animal and other marine life.

Sharks

There are a number of unique fish in the waters off Queensland. Among them is the greynurse shark Carcharias taurus, which is one of Australia's most threatened marine species. It is estimated that there are less than 500 left along Australia's east coast. The greynurse shark is protected under Queensland law (listed as Endangered under the Nature Conservation Act 1992) and Commonwealth (listed as Critically Endangered), activities such as fishing still have an impact and the survival of the few remaining individuals is critical for the future of this species.

The white shark Carcharodon carcharias has a fearsome reputation. It is an important predator that helps to regulate the populations of other marine life. Because they are a top-predator, they usually occur at low densities. And as they only reproduce every one to three years, their populations have declined through human impacts.

Speartooth sharks Glyphis sp. are restricted to the Gulf of Carpentaria. They are sometimes confused with bull sharks. However, speartooth sharks can be distinguished by spear-like teeth on the bottom jaw that help them to catch fish in the murky rivers in which they feed.

Stingrays

There are a large variety of rays in Queensland's water. The estuary stingray Dasyatis fluviorum was found to be one of the most threatened by the Back on Track species prioritisation framework. Estuary stingrays occur sporadically all along Queensland's coast where they favour shallow inshore waters, but also live in mangrove-fringed rivers and estuaries. They are threatened by fishing where caught stingrays are killed. Some fishers cut off the tails of stingrays because they are concerned about getting stung, but stingrays often die as a result.

Sawfish

Estuary stingray © Peter Kyne

The freshwater sawfish Pristis microdon, dwarf sawfish Pristis clavata and green sawfish Pristis zijsron are all of conservation concern. Their saw-shaped rostrum (snout) has electroreceptors which can detect the heartbeats, and movement, of crabs and shrimp buried in the muddy seafloor or river bottom.

Last reviewed 19 July 2011
Last updated 14 June 2011