Gestation is between 9 –12 months (Gilmore commercial fishing and recreational fishing) et al. 1983). and beach protective shark meshing. Conservation assessment Conservation objectives and management Nationally, there have been major declines reported for this species, recognised in the A national recovery plan for this species was ascription of vulnerable and endangered established in 2002 (Environment Australia status to the west and east coast 2002). This plan includes a range of populations respectively. recommended research and management measures, including habitat protection, However, in the NT waters, very little is development of monitoring programs, and known of grey nurse shark populations. ameliorative measures for fisheries Anecdotal evidence suggests that it is management. naturally rare, and the population is much smaller than in either the east or west The managing authority for this species in coasts. It is also unknown whether the the NT is the Fisheries Section of the Northern Territory population consists of Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries breeding individuals or comprises nomadic and Mines. Currently there is no individuals from larger temperate zone management program for the grey nurse populations. shark in the Northern Territory. Little is known of the size of, or trends in, The research priorities are to: the population in the Northern Territory. (i) determine the status of the population in There are no records of the species being the Northern Territory; and caught by shark fisheries and it appears that (ii) undertake an assessment of the impacts it is rarely caught as bycatch from of bycatch in commercial fishing operations. commercial fishing operations in the The management priorities are to: Northern Territory, a factor that has (i) reduce bycatch in commercial fishing contributed to dramatic population declines operations; and in other areas. The species is classified as (ii) enhance the control and policing of illicit Data Deficient due to lack of information on shark-fin fishing. population trends in the NT and its likely natural rarity. Compiled by Simon Stirrat Threatening processes Helen Larson The most likely potential threatening [November 2006] process in Northern Territory waters is incidental capture by commercial fishing operations or by illegal fishers. Populations in southern waters have declined dramatically due to fishing (spearfishing,
Gestation is between 9 –12 months (Gilmore et al. 1983). Conservation assessment Nationally, there have been major declines reported for this species, recognised in the ascription of vulnerable and endangered status to the west and east coast populations respectively. However, in the NT waters, very little is known of grey nurse shark populations. Anecdotal evidence suggests that it is naturally rare, and the population is much smaller than in either the east or west coasts. It is also unknown whether the Northern Territory population consists of breeding individuals or comprises nomadic individuals from larger temperate zone populations. Little is known of the size of, or trends in, the population in the Northern Territory. There are no records of the species being caught by shark fisheries and it appears that it is rarely caught as bycatch from commercial fishing operations in the Northern Territory, a factor that has contributed to dramatic population declines in other areas. The species is classified as Data Deficient due to lack of information on population trends in the NT and its likely natural rarity. Threatening processes The most likely potential threatening process in Northern Territory waters is incidental capture by commercial fishing operations or by illegal fishers. Populations in southern waters have declined dramatically due to fishing (spearfishing, commercial fishing and recreational fishing) and beach protective shark meshing. Conservation objectives and management A national recovery plan for this species was established in 2002 (Environment Australia 2002). This plan includes a range of recommended research and management measures, including habitat protection, development of monitoring programs, and ameliorative measures for fisheries management. The managing authority for this species in the NT is the Fisheries Section of the Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries and Mines. Currently there is no management program for the grey nurse shark in the Northern Territory. The research priorities are to: (i) determine the status of the population in the Northern Territory; and (ii) undertake an assessment of the impacts of bycatch in commercial fishing operations. The management priorities are to: (i) reduce bycatch in commercial fishing operations; and (ii) enhance the control and policing of illicit shark-fin fishing. Compiled by Simon Stirrat Helen Larson [November 2006]
grey-nurse-shark.docx