Draft recovery plan for Sawfish and River Sharks: (Pristis pristis, Pristis zijsron, Pristis clavata, Glyphis glyphis and Glyphis garricki)

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2014
Department of the Environment
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Public comment

You are invited to comment on this draft recovery plan in accordance with the provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The public comment period closes 29 April 2014.

If you wish to comment on this draft recovery plan, please send your comments, quoting the title of the plan, to:

Email: recoveryplans@environment.gov.au

Mail:
Protected Species and Communities Branch
Wildlife, Heritage and Marine Division
Department of the Environment
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601

Fax: 02 6274 1921

About this document

This document constitutes the draft Recovery Plan for Sawfish and River Sharks (Pristis pristis, Pristis zijsron, Pristis clavata, Glyphis glyphis and Glyphis garricki) 2014. The recovery plan sets out the research and management actions necessary to stop the decline of, and support the recovery of, threatened sawfish and river shark species in Australian waters.

The three sawfish species are listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Northern river sharks are listed as endangered and speartooth sharks as critically endangered under the EPBC Act. All five species are also listed as threatened in each state and territory within their range. This is the first national recovery plan for these species and this recovery plan will be reviewed after a five year period.

The overarching objective of this recovery plan is to assist the recovery of these species in the wild throughout their range in Australian waters by increasing their total population size, with a view to:

  • Improving the population status leading to the removal of these species from the protected species list of the EPBC Act; and
  • Ensuring that anthropogenic activities do not hinder recovery in the near future, or impact on the conservation status of the species in the future.

An accompanying issues paper has also been developed to provide background information on the biology, population status and threats to threatened sawfish and river shark species.