Did you know that around a quarter of all known chondrichthyans – sharks and rays to the rest of us – call Australia home? That’s a whopping 322 species! Of these, more than half are found nowhere else in the world. That’s why we’re making it a priority to minimise fisher’s impact on their environment.
AFMA’s Bycatch and Discards Program has been working with industry and scientists on developing a best practice handling guide to help fishers increase the survivability of incidentally caught sharks and rays.
The guide will provide fishers with information about how to correctly handle sharks and rays, crew safety, and the importance of recording any shark or ray catches in their logbooks. Scientists from Monash University will also be providing current research on the survivability of sharks when captured from a variety of gear types (longline, trawl and gillnet).
If handling practices are improved, it can have a significant impact on the survival of captured sharks and rays. It’s also a great way to reduce bycatch compared with more costly options such as area closures or gear modification. Fishers learning how to better handle sharks and rays can also have a flow on effect in the way target species are handled – which is both beneficial to fishers and the fish they catch.
So it’s important for fishers to remember to return all unwanted sharks and rays to the water unharmed and as quickly as possible to make sure they have a good chance to recover and survive.
If you have ideas on shark handling practices or have other ideas to minimise shark and ray bycatch in Commonwealth fisheries please get in touch with the Bycatch and Discards Program on AFMA Direct 1300 723 621.