SHARKS & RAYS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
South Australia is home to a wide range of sharks, rays, skates, and chimeras (ghost sharks). The list below includes some of these species, and will continue to be updated with new information. This list was compiled by Chloe Roberts, with information from Fishes of Australia, the FRDC Shark and Ray Reports, The Action Plan for Australian Sharks and Rays 2021, and the Sharks and Rays of Australia (2009) book by Peter Robert Last and John Donald Stevens.
Please refer to PIRSA Fishing Rules for more information.
As of 2024, this list contains 77 species.
| Species | Distribution |
| ZERO TAKE | |
| Grey nurse shark Carcharias taurus Australian status: Vulnerable Global status: Critically endangered |  Depth: 0-232 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3285 |
| Southern dogfish Centrophorus uyato Australian & global status: Endangered |  Depth: 50-1400 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2610 |
| Whitefin swellshark Cephaloscyllium albipinnum Australian & global status: Critically endangered, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 125-555 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2621 |
| Basking shark Cetorhinus maximus Australian status: Near threatened Global status: Endangered |  Depth: 0-1264 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1847 |
| Pygmy thornback skate Dentiraja flindersi Australian & global status: Data deficient, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 27-54 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2642 |
| Thornback skate Dentiraja lemprieri Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 0-170 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3893 |
| Grey skate Dipturus canutus Australian & global status: Endangered, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 155-1050 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2649 |
| Whitespotted skate Dentiraja cerva, previously Dipturus cerva Australian & global status: Near threatened, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 20–470 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3891 |
| Bight skate Dipturus gudgeri Australian & global status: Near threatened, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 160-765 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3892 |
| Deepwater skate Dipturus acrobelus Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 446-1328 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2645 |
| Greeneye spurdog Squalus chloroculus Australian & global status: Endangered, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 216–1360 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3516 |
| Sandyback stingaree Urolophus bucculentus Australian & global status: Vulnerable |  Depth: 65–265 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3531 |
| Banded stingaree Urolophus cruciatus Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 1-210 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2033 |
| Wide stingaree Urolophus expansus Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 140–420 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3533 |
| Spotted stingaree Urolophus gigas Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 1-50 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3534 |
| Coastal stingaree Urolophus orarius Australian & global status: Endangered, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 5-50 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3541 |
| Sparsely-spotted stingaree Urolophus paucimaculatus Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 0-206 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3536 |
| Oceanic whitetip shark Carcharhinus longimanus Australian & global status: Critically endangered |  Depth: 0-1082 mA single specimen has been recorded in South Australia (Last and Stevens 2009) https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1950 |
| (pre-existing rule) Great white shark Carcharodon carcharias Australian & global status: Vulnerable |  Depth: 0-1300 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1846 |
| 1 daily bag and 3 daily boat limit, combined with all other species listed under this rule | |
| Bigeye thresher Alopias superciliosus Australian & global status: Vulnerable |  Depth: 0-955 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1849 |
| Common thresher Alopias vulpinus Australian status: Near threatened Global status: Vulnerable |  Depth: 0-650 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1850 |
| Bronze whaler Carcharhinus brachyurus Australian status: Least concern Global status: Vulnerable |  Depth: 1-145 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2883 |
| Dusky whaler Carcharhinus obscurus Australian status: Near threatened Global status: Endangered |  Depth: 0-500 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1953 |
| Smooth stingray Bathytoshia brevicaudata, previously Dasyatis brevicaudata Australian & global status: Least concern Also has 100 cm max disc width limit |  Depth: 0-480 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2020 |
| Black stingray Bathytoshia lata Australian status: Least concern Global status: Vulnerable Also has 100 cm max disc width limit |  Depth: 0-800 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3526 |
| School/tope shark Galeorhinus galeus Australian status: Endangered Global status: Critically endangered |  Depth: 2-826 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1960 |
| Shortfin mako Isurus oxyrinchus Australian status: Vulnerable Global status: Endangered |  Depth: 1-888 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3255 |
| Broadnose sevengill shark Notorynchus cepedianus Australian status: Least concern Global status: Vulnerable |  Depth: 0-570 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2002 |
| Melbourne skate Spiniraja whitleyi Australian & global status: Vulnerable, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 1-345 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3895 |
| Smooth hammerhead shark Sphyrna zygaena Australian status: Near threatened Global status: Vulnerable |  Depth: 0-200 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1970 |
| 2 daily bag and 6 daily boat limit, combined with all other species listed under this rule | |
| Western shovelnose ray Aptychotrema vincentiana Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia Also has 80 cm max total length limit |  Depth: 0-125 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1837 |
| Gulf catshark Asymbolus vincenti Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 2-220 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3746 |
| Elephantfish Callorhinchus milii Australian & global status: Least concern |  Depth: 0-200 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1986 |
| Draughtboard shark Cephaloscyllium laticeps Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 2-60 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3748 |
| Brier shark Deania calcea Australian & global status: Near threatened |  Depth: 60-1600 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2009 |
| Longsnout dogfish Deania quadrispinosa Australian status: Near threatened Global status: Vulnerable |  Depth: 150-1360 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2010 |
| Whiskery shark Furgaleus macki Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 2-220 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1958 |
| Port Jackson shark Heterodontus portusjacksoni Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 1-275 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1982 |
| Coffin ray Hypnos monopterygius Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 4-220 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1843 |
| Southern round skate Irolita waitii Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 50-200 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1840 |
| Goblin shark Mitsukurina owstoni Australian & global status: Least concern |  Depth: 0-1300 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3254 |
| Gummy shark Mustelus antarcticus Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 1-400 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3260 |
| Southern eagle ray Myliobatis tenuicaudatus Australian & global status: Least concern Also has 100 cm max disc width limit |  Depth: 0-422 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3545 |
| Tasmanian numbfish Narcinops tasmaniensis Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 0-640 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3280 |
| Banded/gulf wobbegong Orectolobus halei Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 0-195 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3268 |
| Spotted wobbegong Orectolobus maculatus Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 0-218 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1975 |
| Rusty carpetshark Parascyllium ferrugineum Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 5-150 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3288 |
| Varied carpetshark Parascyllium variolatum Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 0-180 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1977 |
| Blue shark Prionace glauca Australian & global status: Near threatened |  Depth: 0-1000 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1964 |
| Common sawshark Pristiophorus cirratus Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 40-630 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2018 |
| Southern sawshark Pristiophorus nudipinnis Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 0-110 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3524 |
| Whitespotted/spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias Australian status: Least concern Global status: Vulnerable |  Depth: 1-1978 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3513 |
| Spikey dogfish/shortnose spurdog Squalus megalops Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 1–580 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2017 |
| Australian angelshark Squatina australis Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 0-130 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3283 |
| Ornate angelshark Squatina tergocellata Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 130-400 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3284 |
| Cobbler wobbegong Sutorectus tentaculatus Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 1-35 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1979 |
| Eastern shovelnose stingaree Trygonoptera imitata Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 0-120 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2631 |
| Western shovelnose stingaree Trygonoptera mucosa Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 0-95 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4285 |
| Southern fiddler ray Trygonorrhina dumerilii Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia Also has 80 cm max total length limit |  Depth: 30-205 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1839 |
| Peacock Skate Pavoraja nitida Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 75-450 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1841 |
| Blue skate Notoraja azurea Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 765-1440 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2635 |
| Sandy skate Pavoraja arenaria Australian & global status: Data deficient, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 190-710 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2606 |
| Blotched skate Notoraja sticta Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 820-1200 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2636 |
| Challenger skate Rajella challengeri Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 860-1500 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2667 |
| Short-tail torpedo ray Tetronarce nobiliana Australian & global status: Least concern |  Depth: 0-925 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1844 |
| Pencil shark Hypogaleus hyugaensis Australian & global status: Data deficient |  Depth: 40-480 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1962 |
| Bramble shark Echinorhinus brucus Australian status: Data deficient Global status: Endangered |  Depth: 10-900 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2011 |
| Kitefin shark Dalatias licha Australian status: Near threatened Global status: Vulnerable |  Depth: 37-1800 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2008 |
| Ogilby's ghostshark Chimaera ogilbyi Australian & global status: Near threatened |  Depth: 120-872 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1985 |
| Sharpnose sevengill shark Heptranchias perlo Australian status: Least concern Global status: Near threatened |  Depth: 0-1000 m, usually 100-400 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2000 |
| Western spotted catshark Asymbolus occidus Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 98-400 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1409 |
| Prickly shark Echinorhinus cookei Australian & global status: Data deficient |  Depth: 4-1100 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3502 |
| Prickly dogfish Oxynotus bruniensis Australian & global status: Near threatened |  Depth: 45-1120 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2016 |
| Owston's dogfish Centroscymnus owstonii Australian status: Near threatened Global status: Vulnerable |  Depth: 500-1460 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3500 |
| Blackbelly lanternshark Etmopterus lucifer Australian & global status: Least concern |  Depth: 160-1360 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3505 |
| Sawtail catshark Figaro boardmani Australian & global status: Least concern, endemic to Australia |  Depth: 130-640 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3749 |
| Longnose velvet dogfish Centroselachus crepidater Australian status: Least concern Global status: Near threatened |  Depth: 200-2080 mhttps://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2006 |
This list is subject to change due to shifts in distribution, local depletion, and new discoveries. Any elasmobranch species caught in South Australian waters is subject to a (combined) 2 daily bag and 6 daily boat limit, unless listed under another catch limit rule.