THREE SHARKS LISTED AS MIGRATORY SPECIES UNDER THE EPBC ACT

What is the epbc Act? Porbeagle The porbeagle is a wide-ranging, coastal and The Environment Protection and oceanic shark. Around Australia, porbeagles reach Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the a maximum size of approximately 2 metres. The porbeagle can be confused with the shortfin mako. EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s In Australian waters, the porbeagle is found off central piece of environmental legislation. southern Australia from southern Queensland to southern Western Australia. The EPBC Act provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places — defined in the Act as matters of national environmental significance. Listed migratory species are one of the matters of national environmental significance.

Which sharks will be listed? On 29 January 2010, three shark species will be included in the list of migratory species under the EPBC Act. These sharks are: • porbeagle • shortfin mako • longfin mako.

Porbeagle range in Australian waters

environment.gov.au Shortfin mako Longfin mako The shortfin mako is a wide-ranging oceanic The longfin mako is a widely distributed, but rarely and pelagic shark. The shortfin mako is probably encountered oceanic tropical shark. The longfin the fastest of all sharks and can grow to almost mako is often confused with its slightly more 4 metres. The shortfin mako is widespread in slender-bodied relative, the shortfin mako. The Australian waters, but is rarely found in water longfin mako can grow to just over 4 metres and below 16oC. is found in Australian waters south to Geraldton in Western Australia and to at least Port Stephens in New South Wales.

Shortfin mako range in Australian waters Longfin mako range in Australian waters

Why have three shark species climate change. The Australian Government is committed to international shark protection and been listed as migratory? conservation and was supportive of the inclusion of The EPBC Act requires that species included the three sharks in Appendix II of the CMS. in an Appendix to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) must be added to the list of Populations of the porbeagle, shortfin and longfin migratory species under the Act. The three shark mako are all considered to have undergone species were listed on Appendix II of the CMS in substantial declines globally. Their continued December 2008. interaction with fisheries, combined with their relatively low reproductive capacity and longevity Appendix II of the CMS contains migratory species (the porbeagle is thought to live to 65 years) which have an unfavourable conservation status. make them susceptible to over-exploitation and Sharks continue to be at risk internationally from population depletion. over-fishing, illegal trade, habitat degradation, incidental bycatch and emerging threats such as For more information on the CMS, see: http://www.cms.int/ What does listing as in accordance with a plan or regime accredited by the Minister, and actions that are the result of migratory mean? an unavoidable accident that is not caused by From 29 January 2010, when porbeagle, shortfin negligent or reckless behaviour. and longfin mako sharks are included in the list of migratory species, the provisions of the EPBC Act Where an exception applies, the person who kills or that protect listed migratory species will apply to the injures the listed sharks must notify the Secretary three shark species. of the Department of the Environment, Water, There are two principal ways in which the EPBC Heritage and the Arts within seven days of the Act protects listed migratory species: action that resulted in the death or injury. Failure to notify is an offence. • Killing, injuring or taking a member of a listed migratory species in a Commonwealth marine The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 area is prohibited, as is trading, keeping or makes it an offence to take or injure migratory moving a member taken in the Commonwealth species listed in the EPBC Act throughout the marine area. These provisions are found in Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Part 13 of the Act • Actions that have, will have, or are likely to Actions that have or are likely to have a significant impact on the species as a have a significant impact on a listed whole are prohibited. These provisions apply migratory species throughout the Australian jurisdiction and are Actions that have, will have or are likely to have a found in Part 3 of the Act. significant impact on a listed migratory species are prohibited unless the Minister has granted approval Killing, injuring, taking, trading, under the Act. These provisions will apply to the keeping or moving a member of a listed three listed shark species. There are substantial migratory species. civil and criminal penalties for taking such actions. It is a criminal offence to kill, injure or take a member of a listed migratory species in the The provisions apply throughout the Australian Commonwealth marine area. It is also an offence to jurisdiction including in the Commonwealth marine trade, keep or move a member of a listed migratory area and state and territory waters. species that is taken from the Commonwealth marine area. The provisions also apply to fishery activities carried out under a plan under the Fisheries The Commonwealth marine area: Management Act 1991 which applies to an area not wholly within the Australian jurisdiction. • includes waters from the outer limit of State and Northern Territory coastal waters to the 200 nm Whether an action will have or is likely to have a limit of the exclusive economic zone or the significant impact on a listed migratory species is edge of the continental shelf (which may extend determined on a case by case basis. beyond the 200 nm limit). • but does not include State and Northern Territory coastal waters and waters within the limits of a How does the migratory listing State or Territory. (State and Northern Territory affect current activities? coastal waters are the first 3 nautical miles of the Commercial fishing territorial sea and waters on the landward side of A number of Australian fisheries interact with and the territorial sea baselines which are not within keep the three shark species concerned. State or Northern Territory limits). On 29 January 2010, these sharks will be listed There are some exemptions to these provisions. as migratory species under the EPBC Act. From The exemptions include actions that are taken this time, fishing for them will be prohibited in developing further guidance on this matter. this on guidance developing further E of the injury. Department The way asto so avoid further a in done is tagging the provided to release, prior shark caught accidentally an to tag permissible be will It harm. any further without released be alive is must it shark the If EPBC Act. the under notanoffence is it recklessness, or negligence by not caused of anunavoidableresult accident, the is shark of the injuring or killing taking, the If species. three the to target permitted notbe will It C the mako in sharks longfin or shortfin porbeagle, keeping or of taking asmigratory, the species shark three of the listing the Following and Charter boat operators, game fishers species. the on was likelyimpact to have action the asignificant if prohibited be also will Territory limits, Northern and State within waters and waters coastal Territory Northern and state waters, including Take any in Australian species shark three of the returned. to be need will sharks live caught that is implication One basis. case-by-case a on considered be will arrangements management to fisheries requirement this of application The fishing. of the as aresult injured or notkilled are species migratory listed of members steps tothat ensure reasonable take to all fishers must require arrangements management fisheries accredited, to be order In makoshark. longfin and shortfin porbeagle, the for adequatethey protection provide tothat ensure EPBC Act the under accreditations existing reviewing is Arts the and Heritage E of the Department The have currently species these with thatinteract waters in Australian fisheries All P under accredited arrangements management with as bycatch accordance in caught are species where prohibitions exception an to these provides C the 13 Act. art of the ommonwealth marine area will not be allowed. notbe will area marine ommonwealth

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