Ruqayyah Snyder
Hammerhead sharks are an iconic species inhabiting Australian waters, but they are under threat and in some cases even endangered. In Western Australia, a critically endangered species of scalloped hammerhead shark was discovered in Perth metropolitan waters, further south than previously recorded. While the Australian government is determined to ensure the conservation of shark species, a number of hammerhead sharks are not adequately protected from fishing under Australia's nature laws. Scalloped hammerheads, for example, are listed under the 'Conservation Dependent' category, which allows commercial fishing to continue despite their low numbers. This category also applies to great and smooth hammerheads, and winghead sharks, which are not listed and thus have no protection. While some states have implemented protections, such as New South Wales where scalloped and great hammerheads must be returned to the water if caught, hammerhead sharks in Western Australia remain vulnerable to commercial and recreational fishing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Conservation status in Western Australia | Listed as "Conservation Dependent" under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) |
| Conservation status in Australia | Listed as "Conservation Dependent" under the EPBC Act; considered "threatened" under the EPBC Act |
| Protection in Western Australia | Unknown; the current catch of scalloped hammerheads in Western Australia is unknown |
| Protection in Australia | Inadequate protection from fishing under the EPBC Act; targeted fishing for flesh and fins is prohibited in New South Wales; protected in Queensland as of January 2024 |
| International protection | Included in Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) in 2014; protected under the EPBC Act as Australia is a signatory to CMS |
| Export status | Allowed, subject to limits set by the Australian CITES Scientific Authority |
| Species found in Western Australia | Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) |
| Species found in Australia | Scalloped hammerhead, great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran), smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena), and winghead shark (Eusphyra blochii) |
| Danger to humans | The great hammerhead is considered dangerous; the scalloped hammerhead and smooth hammerhead are timid and harmless |
| Average length | Scalloped hammerhead juveniles in Western Australia: 1.5 meters; great hammerhead: 6 meters; scalloped and smooth hammerheads: 4 meters |
| Diet | Stingrays |
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What You'll Learn
Hammerhead sharks are endangered in Western Australia
Hammerhead sharks are an iconic species inhabiting Australian waters, but they are under threat and, in some cases, even endangered. In Western Australia, a critically endangered species of scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna Lewini) has been found in Perth metropolitan waters, further south than previously recorded. This discovery has significant conservation implications for the species.
Scalloped hammerheads are listed under the ''Conservation Dependent' category of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This category, specifically created for fish, allows commercial fishing to continue despite low numbers indicating that scalloped hammerheads qualify for an 'Endangered' listing. The Australian government's decision to retain this listing in 2024 has been met with criticism, as it prioritizes the interests of the commercial fishing industry over the protection of a threatened species.
While some conservation efforts are being made, such as the removal of gillnets from the Great Barrier Reef, which will save around 150 tonnes of endangered hammerheads each year, more needs to be done to protect hammerhead sharks in Western Australia. The Australian Marine Conservation Society advocates for policy changes to better protect these misunderstood species, which have never been involved in a fatal incident. They are targeted by culling through lethal shark control programs in Queensland and New South Wales, with 592 hammerheads culled over a six-year period.
Hammerhead sharks are vulnerable to mortality above natural levels due to their life history traits, including slow maturation and low fecundity rates. Commercial and recreational fishing, as well as habitat degradation and shark control activities, pose significant threats to their survival. The Australian government has expressed determination to ensure the conservation of shark species in Australian waters, but the current protection measures under the EPBC Act are inadequate for many hammerhead populations, especially in Western Australia.
Overall, hammerhead sharks, including the critically endangered scalloped hammerhead species found in Perth metropolitan waters, are endangered in Western Australia. Their conservation status is under review, and stronger protection measures are needed to ensure the recovery and long-term survival of these magnificent creatures.
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The Australian government's conservation efforts
Hammerhead sharks are an iconic species found in Australian waters. However, they are under threat and, in some cases, even endangered. The Australian government has implemented various measures to conserve and protect hammerhead shark species.
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the primary legislation governing the conservation of hammerhead sharks in Australia. Under this Act, several hammerhead species have been listed as 'threatened', including the scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini), the great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran), and the smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena). The EPBC Act makes it an offence to harm, trade, or disturb any listed threatened species without a permit.
Additionally, Australia is a signatory to several international conventions and agreements aimed at protecting migratory species, including hammerhead sharks. In 2014, scalloped and great hammerhead sharks were included in Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). This listing recognises that these species are not currently endangered but could benefit from international cooperation to ensure their conservation.
To enable the export of CITES-listed species, Australia conducts non-detriment finding assessments to ensure that export levels will not negatively impact the survival of hammerhead shark species in the wild. In 2014, the Australian CITES Scientific Authority determined that harvest and export levels for scalloped, great, and smooth hammerhead sharks could continue without detrimental effects, provided they remained within specified limits.
In Western Australia, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) oversees the conservation of hammerhead sharks. While specific details of their conservation efforts are not readily available, the DBCA likely plays a crucial role in monitoring and protecting hammerhead shark populations in the region.
Despite these conservation efforts, there are concerns that current protections may not be sufficient. For example, the 'Conservation Dependent' listing of scalloped hammerheads under the EPBC Act has been criticised as it allows commercial fishing to continue, potentially hindering the species' recovery. There are also concerns about the impact of culling through lethal shark control programs in Queensland and New South Wales, where 592 hammerheads were culled between 2012 and 2018.
Overall, the Australian government has taken steps to conserve and protect hammerhead shark species through legislation, international cooperation, and scientific assessments. However, ongoing advocacy and policy changes are needed to address remaining challenges and ensure the long-term survival of these magnificent creatures.
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Scalloped hammerheads are 'Conservation Dependent'
Hammerhead sharks are an iconic species found in Australian waters. However, they are under threat and, in some cases, even endangered. Scalloped hammerheads (Sphyrna lewini) are listed as 'Conservation Dependent' in Western Australia under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This categorisation allows commercial fishing to continue, despite low population numbers that indicate an 'Endangered' listing may be more appropriate.
The scalloped hammerhead is a moderately large shark species with a distinctive hammer-shaped head and indentations on the anterior margin. They are typically found in warm, temperate, and tropical coastal waters worldwide and are known for their grey, brown, bronze, or olive colouring. Scalloped hammerheads are easily distinguishable from other hammerhead species by their central indentation, flanked by two smaller indentations on either side, giving them a "scalloped" appearance.
The 'Conservation Dependent' categorisation for scalloped hammerheads in Western Australia has been a cause for concern among conservationists. While it acknowledges the species' vulnerable status, it falls short of providing adequate protection from commercial fishing. The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) advocates for stronger policy measures to safeguard this misunderstood species.
The scalloped hammerhead population faces significant threats, including overfishing for the shark fin trade and liver oil. They are particularly vulnerable to gillnets, with removal efforts in the Great Barrier Reef expected to save around 50% of sharks caught annually. Additionally, scalloped hammerheads are culled through lethal shark control programs in Queensland and New South Wales, despite no record of fatal incidents involving this species.
Conservation efforts for scalloped hammerheads are underway, including drone surveys to monitor populations and proposals for Net Free Zones in Western Australia. However, challenges remain, such as the uncertainty of contemporary catch data, which hinders effective protection. The Australian government is expected to reassess the conservation status of all hammerhead species in 2024, and there are calls for an 'Endangered' listing for scalloped hammerheads to facilitate their recovery.
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Hammerheads are targeted by commercial fisheries
Hammerhead sharks are an iconic species inhabiting Australian waters. They are under threat, and some species are even endangered. A number of hammerheads are not adequately protected from commercial fishing under Australia's nature laws, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Scalloped hammerheads, for example, are listed under the 'Conservation Dependent' category, which allows commercial fishing to continue. This category was created specifically for fish, and it protects the interests of the commercial fishing industry by permitting the continued fishing of threatened species if a plan to manage the capture is in place. Under this category, 78 tonnes of hammerhead sharks can be caught in the Great Barrier Reef, more than in any other part of Australia.
Great and smooth hammerheads, and winghead sharks, are not listed under the EPBC Act and therefore have no protection under it. From a global perspective, the IUCN Red List, an international body that assesses the conservation status of wildlife, lists great and scalloped hammerheads as threatened species. International trade in these species is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) convention. Any trade of CITES-listed species must conform to a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF), which contains management guidelines to ensure the species' survival is not threatened by trade.
Hammerhead sharks are also threatened by culling through lethal shark control programs in Queensland and New South Wales. Over six years (2012-2018), 592 hammerheads were culled, at an average of 99 per year. Lethal shark control programs have been carried out annually since 1937 in NSW and 1962 in QLD, using outdated and ineffective methods such as nets and drumlines. Despite this, hammerhead sharks have never been involved in a fatal incident.
There is concern that the number of hammerhead sharks killed in fishing is under-reported in fishing records, so the severity of the issue may be worse than imagined. Historically, fishery reports have only reported the number of 'hammerheads' caught, rather than specifying the numbers of each species. This means there is limited information on the actual number of each of these threatened species caught in Australian waters.
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The EPBC Act and CITES regulations
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is Australia's central piece of environmental legislation. Under the EPBC Act, it is an offence to kill, injure, take, trade, keep, or move any member of a listed threatened species on Australian Government land or in Commonwealth waters without a permit. The Act also requires that any action significantly impacting a threatened species must be referred to the Department for assessment before proceeding.
The EPBC Act has been criticised for not adequately protecting hammerhead sharks from fishing. While scalloped hammerheads are listed as 'Conservation Dependent', this category allows commercial fishing to continue, and 78 tonnes of hammerhead sharks can be caught in the Great Barrier Reef. Great and smooth hammerheads and winghead sharks are not listed and thus have no protection under the EPBC Act.
The Australian government has recognised the need to strengthen protection for hammerhead sharks, especially at their aggregation sites. In 2024, the government will reassess a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) for all hammerhead species. The NDF is an assessment undertaken to enable the export of CITES-listed species. It ensures that export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.
In 2014, the Australian CITES Scientific Authority conducted a non-detriment finding assessment for three species of hammerhead sharks: scalloped, great, and smooth hammerheads. The assessment found that harvest and export levels would not be detrimental to the species if harvest levels remained within specified limits. In 2023, following the Appendix II listing of the entire Sphyrnidae family, the Authority sought independent expert advice to inform updated non-detriment findings for scalloped, great, smooth hammerheads, and winghead sharks. A positive non-detriment finding was made for these species.
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Frequently asked questions
Hammerhead sharks are not adequately protected from fishing in Western Australia. They are listed as ''Conservation Dependent' under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), which allows commercial fishing to continue. However, scalloped hammerheads, great hammerheads, and smooth hammerheads are protected in New South Wales and must be returned to the water if caught.
Hammerhead sharks are considered endangered in Western Australia, with low numbers indicating that they qualify for an 'Endangered' listing. They are listed as 'Conservation Dependent', which is a category created specifically for fish that allows commercial fishing to continue.
Hammerhead sharks in Western Australia face threats from commercial fishing and shark control programs. They are also targeted or taken incidentally in some Australian commercial fisheries.
To protect hammerhead sharks in Western Australia, it is important to strengthen their protection, especially at their aggregation sites. Removing gillnets and creating new Net Free Zones can also help their recovery. Additionally, avoiding the purchase of shark souvenirs, such as teeth or jaws, can contribute to their conservation.
