Damon Mcknight
Hammerhead sharks are found in oceans worldwide, but in Australia, they are predominantly found in the northern waters, from Sydney to the Houtman Abrolhos in Western Australia. They are also found in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, which is a hotspot for shark diversity in Australia. Hammerhead sharks are currently listed as threatened under national environment laws in Australia, and their populations are declining. Commercial fishing is the biggest threat to hammerhead sharks in Australia, and they are also targeted by lethal shark control programs in Queensland and New South Wales.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of shark species found in Australia | 170-180 |
| Number of endemic shark species in Australia | 70 |
| Locations | Northern Australia, Sydney, Houtman Abrolhos, WA, Mooloolaba, Queensland, Jervis Bay, NSW, Coral Sea, Port Stephens, NSW, Gulf of Carpentaria |
| Shark species | Hammerhead, Whale, Pygmy, Great White, Northern River, Speartooth, Tasselled Wobbegong, Tiger, Galeocerdo Cuvier, White, Bull, Smooth Dogfish, Port Jackson, Smooth Hammerhead, Grey Nurse, Great Hammerhead, Bonnethead, Winghead |
| Shark reproduction methods | Oviparous, Viviparous, Ovoviviparous, Automictic Parthenogenesis |
| Threats | Over-fishing, Habitat Degradation, Climate Change, Shark Nets, Gillnets, Shark Control Activities, Commercial Fishing, Shark Control Programs |
| Shark conservation laws | Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, IUCN Red List |
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What You'll Learn
- Hammerhead sharks are found in the waters of the Northern Territory and Western Australia
- They are also found in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland
- Hammerheads are fished for fins and flesh in the Great Barrier Reef
- They are threatened by culling in QLD and NSW
- Hammerheads are found in coastal waters and freshwater systems like rivers and estuaries
Hammerhead sharks are found in the waters of the Northern Territory and Western Australia
The Australian Government has proposed changes to protect all hammerhead species in the waters from 2024. Until then, they are still caught in fishing nets in the Great Barrier Reef, where 78 tonnes of hammerhead sharks can be caught, more than in any other part of Australia. The scalloped hammerhead is currently being reviewed by the Australian Government for an escalation to 'Endangered' status under the EPBC Act. This would result in a reassessment of the NDF for all hammerhead species in 2024.
Hammerhead sharks are also threatened by culling in Queensland and New South Wales. Lethal shark control programs have been carried out annually since 1937 in NSW and 1962 in QLD. These programs use nets or drumlines, which are considered outdated and ineffective. Despite this, hammerhead sharks are not a common target for commercial fishermen or anglers and are not frequently caught as bycatch.
Hammerhead sharks are found in warm, tropical waters worldwide and are known for their distinctive head shape, which provides superior binocular vision and depth perception. They have a varied diet, including fish, other sharks, crustaceans, and cephalopods, but are particularly known for their appetite for rays, which they pin to the seafloor before feeding.
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They are also found in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland
Hammerhead sharks are found in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The Coral Sea is a hotspot for shark diversity in Australia, with more than 50 species. Hammerheads are known for their distinctive head shape, which is flattened and laterally extended into a cephalofoil, resembling a “T" or a "hammer". This unique head shape provides them with superior binocular vision and depth perception, enhancing their hunting abilities.
In Queensland, hammerhead sharks are currently under threat from commercial fishing and lethal shark control programs. Despite their endangered status, they are still targeted in the waters of the state. The Queensland Government has proposed changes to protect all hammerhead species in its waters starting in 2024. Until these protections are in place, hammerhead sharks remain vulnerable to being caught in fishing nets and other shark control methods.
The Coral Sea is known for its diverse marine life, and hammerhead sharks are a part of this rich ecosystem. They are often found in warmer waters along coastlines and continental shelves, preferring to congregate and swim in large schools during the day. At night, they become solitary hunters, searching for prey. Hammerheads have a varied diet, feeding on fish, other sharks, crustaceans, and cephalopods, but they are particularly known for their appetite for rays.
The presence of hammerhead sharks in the Coral Sea highlights the importance of conservation efforts in the region. While commercial fishing poses a significant threat to their population, the Queensland Government's proposed changes offer a glimmer of hope for their protection. It is crucial to ensure the survival of these fascinating creatures and maintain the delicate balance of the marine ecosystem in the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland.
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Hammerheads are fished for fins and flesh in the Great Barrier Reef
Hammerhead sharks are found in the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef, where they are sometimes spotted in deeper waters around Osprey Reef, Holmes Reef, and the Coral Sea, especially during the warmer months. They are also found in other coastal waters around Australia, such as Mooloolaba, Queensland, and Jervis Bay, NSW. They are known for their distinctive wide, flat head, which gives them excellent vision and hunting abilities. Unfortunately, hammerhead sharks are also fished for their fins and flesh in the Great Barrier Reef, despite being listed as threatened or endangered.
The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has reported that endangered scalloped and great hammerheads are still fished for fins and flesh in the waters of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. This is due to a loophole in Australia's nature laws, specifically the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The EPBC Act lists scalloped hammerheads as "Conservation Dependent," which allows for continued commercial fishing of this threatened species. Under this category, 78 tonnes of hammerhead sharks can be caught in the Great Barrier Reef, more than in any other part of Australia. This makes commercial fishing the biggest threat to hammerheads, with 370 tonnes of hammerhead sharks legally caught each year in Australian waters.
The Queensland Government has proposed changes to protect all hammerhead species in its waters from 2024. Additionally, the AMCS has advocated for policy changes to better protect hammerheads, including listing all hammerhead species as "no-take" in Queensland and New South Wales. The removal of gillnets from the Great Barrier Reef is another positive step, expected to save around 50% of the sharks caught per year in the Reef. These measures are crucial for the recovery of hammerhead populations, which have declined due to overfishing, illegal fishing, rising water temperatures, and ocean acidification.
Hammerhead sharks are iconic predators of the Great Barrier Reef, known for their unique head shape and impressive hunting skills. They are opportunistic feeders, consuming diverse prey such as fish, crustaceans, squid, and stingrays. They are also social creatures, forming schools ranging from a few individuals to hundreds of sharks. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has implemented fishing restrictions and marine protected areas to help conserve hammerhead sharks. These measures aim to balance the needs of conservation with those of commercial fishing, ensuring the long-term survival of this majestic species in the Great Barrier Reef and beyond.
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They are threatened by culling in QLD and NSW
Hammerhead sharks are an iconic species inhabiting Australian waters. They are found in northern Australian waters from Sydney to the Houtman Abrolhos, WA. The Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, is a hotspot for shark diversity in Australia, with more than 50 species. However, they are under threat and, in some cases, even endangered.
Hammerhead sharks are threatened by culling in QLD and NSW through lethal shark control programs. QLD's Shark Control Program (QSCP) has specifically targeted hammerhead sharks, and in six years (2012-2018), 592 hammerheads were culled, at an average of 99 per year. QLD has been carrying out lethal shark control programs annually since 1962, using either nets or drumlines. These methods are outdated and ineffective, as evidenced by the two fatal shark bites at drumlined and netted beaches in QLD since 2006.
NSW has also carried out lethal shark control programs since 1937, and in that time, there have been 24 unprovoked bites, including one fatality, at netted beaches. The culling of hammerhead sharks in NSW is particularly concerning given that great and scalloped hammerheads are listed as threatened species in the state, and it is illegal to fish for them in NSW state waters. Despite this, they are still targeted in commercial fisheries and are vulnerable to being caught in gillnets due to the unique shape of their heads.
The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) is advocating for policy changes to better protect hammerhead sharks and has achieved some positive outcomes, such as listing all hammerhead species as 'no-take' in Queensland's waters. However, more needs to be done to address the ongoing threat of culling in QLD and NSW and ensure the long-term survival of these magnificent and misunderstood species.
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Hammerheads are found in coastal waters and freshwater systems like rivers and estuaries
Hammerhead sharks are found in coastal waters and freshwater systems like rivers and estuaries. They are present in various locations around Australia, inhabiting both northern and southern waters. Hammerheads are known to favour warmer waters, and their preference for coastal areas may be related to their superior binocular vision and manoeuvrability, which is enhanced by the distinctive shape of their heads. This allows them to effectively stalk prey in shallower waters.
In northern Australia, hammerheads can be found in the waters from Sydney to the Houtman Abrolhos in Western Australia. They are also present in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, a region known for its high diversity of shark species. The speartooth shark (Glyphis garricki and Glyphis glyphis), a freshwater species, is found in the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Northern Territory.
The great hammerhead, a particularly large and aggressive species, is native to intertidal zones along eastern Australia, including Mooloolaba, Queensland, and Jervis Bay, NSW. This species is considered dangerous due to its size and aggression towards its own kind, occasionally engaging in cannibalism. Despite this reputation, attacks on humans are rare.
Scalloped hammerheads, currently listed as 'critically endangered' by the IUCN, are found in the waters of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. They are also present in the Great Barrier Reef, where they are vulnerable to commercial fishing. This species is under threat from fishing practices in the waters of Queensland, where they are targeted for their fins and flesh.
Smooth hammerheads are another species found in Australian waters, and while they are listed as 'vulnerable' by the IUCN, they are not protected under Australian nature laws. The EPBC Act, which is meant to protect threatened species, allows commercial fishing of the smooth hammerhead to continue.
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Frequently asked questions
Hammerhead sharks are found in the waters of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. They are also found in the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney, and Jervis Bay, NSW.
Yes, they are. The scalloped hammerhead is listed as 'critically endangered' under the IUCN Red List. In 2023, the Queensland Government proposed changes that will see all hammerhead species protected in the waters from 2024.
Commercial fishing is the biggest threat to hammerheads. They are targeted for their fins and flesh.
The Australian Government is determined to ensure the conservation of shark species in Australian waters. From 2024, all hammerhead species will be protected in Queensland waters.
Hammerhead sharks have a distinctive head shape that is flattened and laterally extended into a cephalofoil (a T-shape or "hammer"). They have small mouths and eyes placed at each end of the T-shaped structure.
