Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01763:reg:4:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01763
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 4 (pt 1/2)
Character Range: 25312–28178

4                  Reasons for listing under the EPBC Act
The freshwater sawfish was transferred from the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 (ESP Act) to the vulnerable list of the EPBC Act when it came into force in July 2000. For a species to be considered as vulnerable under the ESP Act, the Minister must have been satisfied that the species was likely to become endangered within the next 25 years. Recommendations for listing species under the ESP Act were made to the Minister by the then Endangered Species Advisory Committee. The name change on the threatened species list, from freshwater sawfish (Pristis microdon) to largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis), was endorsed by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) and the species was subsequently relisted under its new name on the threatened species list established under the EPBC Act on 3 October 2013. This direct name change was possible as the biology, abundance and population status in Australian waters did not change as a result of the taxonomic reclassification.
The dwarf sawfish was listed as vulnerable under the EPBC Act in 2009. The dwarf sawfish was recommended for listing by the TSSC as it satisfied Criterion 1 (decline in numbers) of the eligibility requirements. Specifically, the TSSC considered that the species may have undergone a range contraction and was highly susceptible to bycatch in inshore gillnet fishing, as well as being subject to other forms of fishing pressure throughout its range. Therefore, the TSSC judged that the species may have undergone a substantial reduction in numbers within the last three generation lengths and was highly susceptible to future declines.
The green sawfish was listed as vulnerable under the EPBC Act in 2008. The green sawfish was recommended for listing by the TSSC as it satisfied Criterion 1 (decline in numbers) of the eligibility requirements. Specifically, the TSSC considered the green sawfish had experienced a decline in numbers and a range reduction of around 30%, with the species becoming extirpated from NSW and southern Queensland, a region where it was once considered common.
Speartooth sharks and northern river sharks were listed as critically endangered and endangered, respectively under the EPBC Act in 2001. These species were recommended for listing by the TSSC as they satisfied Criteria 2 (geographic distribution), 3 (population size and decline in numbers or distribution) and 4 (population size) of the eligibility criteria. The current listing of the two species of river shark as critically endangered or endangered is based on their limited geographic distribution and the estimated total number of mature individuals being either very (northern river sharks) or extremely (speartooth sharks) low and likely to continue to decline.
Full details of the listing advice for all of the species