Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2014L01089:reg:20:p7
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2014L01089
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 20 (pt 7/33)
Character Range: 18834–21869

• highlighted that since the introduction of the original recovery plan there had only been a small number of official reports of incidental capture of grey nurse sharks from the commercial and recreational fishing sectors and that this was likely to be an underestimate of the actual take

  • highlighted that the New South Wales and Queensland shark control programs were a significant and ongoing source of mortality for the east coast grey nurse shark population

  • found no reason to alter the status of the east coast population from critically endangered or the west coast population from vulnerable

  • identified an ongoing need to maintain a recovery plan for the species and recommended that a new recovery plan be developed to remove the completed actions and include new conservation priorities.

This new recovery plan builds on the 2002 Recovery Plan for the Grey Nurse Shark (Carcharias taurus) in Australia (EA, 2002) and was developed by the Department of the Environment (DoE) in consultation with representatives from Australian and state government agencies, commercial and recreational fishers, environmental non-government organisations and research agencies.

An accompanying issues paper was also developed to provide detailed background information on the biology, population status and threats to the grey nurse shark, as well as to identify research and management priorities. The Recovery Plan for the Grey Nurse Shark (Carcharias taurus) 2014 should therefore be read in conjunction with the Issues Paper for the Grey Nurse Shark (Carcharias taurus) 2014 (DoE, 2014). The Issues Paper can be downloaded from the department's website at: www.environment.gov.au/resource/recovery-plan-grey-nurse-shark-carcharias-taurus

6 Threats
Historically (1950s through to the 1970s), the grey nurse shark was fished in eastern Australia for its oil, flesh, skin and fins. Due to its fierce appearance and being mistaken for other sharks that posed a danger to humans, large numbers were also killed by recreational spear fishers and line fishers who targeted the sharks at their aggregation sites (EA, 2002). The protection of grey nurse sharks under state and Commonwealth legislation means that this species can no longer be targeted by fishers.

The principal current threats to the grey nurse shark in Australia are similar to those identified in the 2002 recovery plan. They can be summarised as:

  • mortality related to incidental (accidental and/or illegal) capture by commercial and recreational fisheries

  • mortality related to shark control activities such as beach meshing or drumlining.

Other potential threats to the species include impacts from ecotourism, collection for public aquaria, pollution and disease and ecosystem effects as a result of habitat modification and climate change—including changes in sea temperature and ocean acidification.

7 Populations that require protective measures
Both the Australian east coast population (currently listed as critically endangered under