Orectolobus maculatus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	CHONDRICHTHYES	ORECTOLOBIFORMES	ORECTOLOBIDAE

Scientific Name:

Orectolobus maculatus

Species Authority:

(Bonnaterre, 1788)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Spotted Wobbegong, Wobbegong

Taxonomic Notes:

Synonyms = Squalus barbatus Gmelin 1788; Squalus lobatus Bloch and Schneider, 1801; Squalus appendiculatus Shaw & Nodder, 1806.

This species is often confused with Orectolobus ornatus (de Vis 1883), especially in the case of live specimens viewed underwater. Western Australia populations of appear to include at least two species (Rory McAuley, WA Fisheries, pers. comm. March 2003). Clearly, further taxonomic research on the Western Australia populations is warranted.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Near Threatened ver 3.1
Year Assessed:	2003
Assessor/s	Pollard, D., Gordon, I., Flaherty, A. & Pogonoski, J. (SSG Australia & Oceania Regional Workshop, March 2003)
Evaluator/s:	Shark Specialist Group Australia & Oceania Regional Group (Shark Red List Authority)
Justification: Probably an Australian endemic (other locality records unconfirmed, pending taxonomic review). A biologically vulnerable low-fecundity species, apparently territorial (site-attached) within its shallow bathymetric range. Caught in commercial and recreational fisheries, as a target species and as bycatch. Historic catch data are aggregated with Orectolobus ornatus, but serious declines (more than 60% between 1990 and 2000) for these two species combined are documented for the east coast (New South Wales), where the population has been assessed as Vulnerable, and where there is still no management plan implemented. Catch levels appear to be low and stable in southern and western Australia, however, given the declines on the east coast due to its vulnerability to exploitation, this species is assessed as Near Threatened throughout the rest of its range. More information is needed on population structure, life history and ecology in order to develop management policies and re-assess conservation status.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Orectolobus maculatus occurs in inshore waters off the southeastern and southern coasts of Australia, from around Fremantle (Western Australia) to Moreton Island (southern Queensland). Some sources (Last and Stevens 1994, Compagno 2001) show the global distribution of O. maculatus to include records from Japan and the South China Sea, though these need to be confirmed and are probably invalid. Tasmanian records are also probably invalid (Last and Stevens 1994). Because of taxonomic difficulties with this genus and the probable invalid nature of non-Australian records, the species should be treated as an Australian endemic (L.J.V. Compagno, pers. comm. 2003).
Countries:	Native: Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania - Presence Uncertain, Victoria, Western Australia)
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Indian Ocean – eastern; Pacific – southwest; Pacific – western central

Population [top]

Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	An abundant, temperate to tropical, inshore to offshore bottom-dwelling shark of continental shelves, occurring from the intertidal zone down to at least 110 m (Pogonoski et al. 2002 reports the species down to 176 m), commonly on coral and rocky reefs, in coastal bays, estuaries, seagrass beds, under piers, and on sandy bottoms (Compagno 2001). Nocturnal, often found in caves, under overhangs on rocky reefs, in channels, and in shipwrecks during the day. There is evidence for site-attachment. Juveniles occur in estuaries and are occasionally found over seagrass beds. Maximum size is approximately 320 cm total length (TL), but most individuals caught are smaller: up to 150 to 180 cm TL. Size at birth is around 21 cm TL. Size at maturity is approximately 120 cm TL (C. Huveneers, unpublished data). Reproduction is aplacental viviparity usually with around 20 pups/litter (Last and Stevens 1994), but up to 37 pups have been recorded (Grant 1978).
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

An abundant, temperate to tropical, inshore to offshore bottom-dwelling shark of continental shelves, occurring from the intertidal zone down to at least 110 m (Pogonoski et al. 2002 reports the species down to 176 m), commonly on coral and rocky reefs, in coastal bays, estuaries, seagrass beds, under piers, and on sandy bottoms (Compagno 2001). Nocturnal, often found in caves, under overhangs on rocky reefs, in channels, and in shipwrecks during the day. There is evidence for site-attachment. Juveniles occur in estuaries and are occasionally found over seagrass beds. Maximum size is approximately 320 cm total length (TL), but most individuals caught are smaller: up to 150 to 180 cm TL. Size at birth is around 21 cm TL. Size at maturity is approximately 120 cm TL (C. Huveneers, unpublished data). Reproduction is aplacental viviparity usually with around 20 pups/litter (Last and Stevens 1994), but up to 37 pups have been recorded (Grant 1978).

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Wobbegong sharks are commonly caught in trawls, beach seines, gillnets, lobster pots and traps, by hook-and-line, and very occasionally by spearfishing. The flesh is now highly regarded as food, although in the past was generally of only limited commercial value. The attractive skin has previously been used as a decorative leather (Last and Stevens 1994) although wobbegongs are currently not targeted for their skin. These sharks are taken as bycatch (often retained) by commercial fisheries throughout their range (Pogonoski et al. 2002). There appear to be relatively low and apparently stable catch levels in southern and western coastal fisheries, and low levels of utilization in WA. However, serious declines have been observed in NSW, demonstrating the vulnerability of this species to exploitation. Generally, declines of up to two thirds have been observed in NSW fisheries aggregated catches of wobbegong sharks (consisting of O. maculatus and O. ornatus) between 1990 and 2000. It should be noted that the effort data are more difficult to interpret, and it has been suggested that the number of fishers targeting wobbegongs may have declined (C. Huveneers, pers.comm). Assessment and management is complicated by the aggregation of the catch data (NSW Fisheries 2001). Based on the future possibility of segregated data for O. ornatus and O. maculatus becoming available in some regions due to improved fisheries data collection, and clarification of the taxonomy of these species, future separate national assessments would be warranted. Commercial fishing by a variety of methods is potentially threatening wobbegong species in southern Australian waters. Wobbegongs are taken in the GABTF, SETF and SSF (AFMA logbook data, unpublished, cited by Pogonoski et al. 2002). Most of the above fisheries take these species as bycatch and they are often utilized. Wobbegongs, mostly less than 2 m long, are part of the bycatch in WA temperate shark fisheries, but are discarded because there is no market for them (Simpfendorfer 1999). Recreational fishers in NSW do not tend to target this species (C. Huveneers, pers.comm.). Some spearfishers catch a small number of wobbegongs but this practice is limited as they do not pose a challenge (Morrow, unpublished data). In Western Australia, a Fisheries Department survey conducted in 1996 to 1997 between Augusta and Kalbarri, reported that up to 1,000 wobbegongs were caught and kept by recreational fishers during that period (Sumner and Williamson 1999). Wobbegongs are also known to be taken by recreational fishers in South Australia, with no bag or size limits in these states. There is evidence of site-attachment for wobbegongs, making them particularly susceptible to fishing pressure, although further work is necessary in this area (Pogonoski et al. 2002). This species may be susceptible to impacts on inshore coastal habitats. Estuaries and seagrass beds may be important nursery areas for juvenile spotted wobbegong sharks (Pogonoski et al. 2002). As such, juveniles may be subject to impacts on estuarine and seagrass environments.

Major Threat(s):

Wobbegong sharks are commonly caught in trawls, beach seines, gillnets, lobster pots and traps, by hook-and-line, and very occasionally by spearfishing. The flesh is now highly regarded as food, although in the past was generally of only limited commercial value. The attractive skin has previously been used as a decorative leather (Last and Stevens 1994) although wobbegongs are currently not targeted for their skin. These sharks are taken as bycatch (often retained) by commercial fisheries throughout their range (Pogonoski et al. 2002). There appear to be relatively low and apparently stable catch levels in southern and western coastal fisheries, and low levels of utilization in WA. However, serious declines have been observed in NSW, demonstrating the vulnerability of this species to exploitation. Generally, declines of up to two thirds have been observed in NSW fisheries aggregated catches of wobbegong sharks (consisting of O. maculatus and O. ornatus) between 1990 and 2000. It should be noted that the effort data are more difficult to interpret, and it has been suggested that the number of fishers targeting wobbegongs may have declined (C. Huveneers, pers.comm). Assessment and management is complicated by the aggregation of the catch data (NSW Fisheries 2001). Based on the future possibility of segregated data for O. ornatus and O. maculatus becoming available in some regions due to improved fisheries data collection, and clarification of the taxonomy of these species, future separate national assessments would be warranted.

Commercial fishing by a variety of methods is potentially threatening wobbegong species in southern Australian waters. Wobbegongs are taken in the GABTF, SETF and SSF (AFMA logbook data, unpublished, cited by Pogonoski et al. 2002). Most of the above fisheries take these species as bycatch and they are often utilized. Wobbegongs, mostly less than 2 m long, are part of the bycatch in WA temperate shark fisheries, but are discarded because there is no market for them (Simpfendorfer 1999).

Recreational fishers in NSW do not tend to target this species (C. Huveneers, pers.comm.). Some spearfishers catch a small number of wobbegongs but this practice is limited as they do not pose a challenge (Morrow, unpublished data). In Western Australia, a Fisheries Department survey conducted in 1996 to 1997 between Augusta and Kalbarri, reported that up to 1,000 wobbegongs were caught and kept by recreational fishers during that period (Sumner and Williamson 1999). Wobbegongs are also known to be taken by recreational fishers in South Australia, with no bag or size limits in these states. There is evidence of site-attachment for wobbegongs, making them particularly susceptible to fishing pressure, although further work is necessary in this area (Pogonoski et al. 2002).

This species may be susceptible to impacts on inshore coastal habitats. Estuaries and seagrass beds may be important nursery areas for juvenile spotted wobbegong sharks (Pogonoski et al. 2002). As such, juveniles may be subject to impacts on estuarine and seagrass environments.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	A discussion paper in relation to the management of wobbegong sharks has been prepared for NSW waters (NSW Fisheries 2001), but no management plan is yet in place. There appear to be no other species-specific management arrangements in other Australian states. Some protection may be offered by those protected areas already being implemented for Grey Nurse Sharks Carcharias taurus in NSW. This species also occurs in some Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in NSW: Julian Rocks Aquatic Reserve, Solitary Islands Marine Park, Fly Point - Halifax Park Aquatic Reserve and Jervis Bay Marine Park. Spotted wobbegongs possibly also occur in the following areas: Shark Bay Marine Park, WA and Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve, WA. The species also occurs in some MPAs in Queensland. Recently, an in-possession limit of two wobbegong sharks per person was introduced for recreational fishers in NSW (Pogonoski et al. 2002).

Conservation Actions:

A discussion paper in relation to the management of wobbegong sharks has been prepared for NSW waters (NSW Fisheries 2001), but no management plan is yet in place. There appear to be no other species-specific management arrangements in other Australian states. Some protection may be offered by those protected areas already being implemented for Grey Nurse Sharks Carcharias taurus in NSW. This species also occurs in some Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in NSW: Julian Rocks Aquatic Reserve, Solitary Islands Marine Park, Fly Point - Halifax Park Aquatic Reserve and Jervis Bay Marine Park. Spotted wobbegongs possibly also occur in the following areas: Shark Bay Marine Park, WA and Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve, WA. The species also occurs in some MPAs in Queensland. Recently, an in-possession limit of two wobbegong sharks per person was introduced for recreational fishers in NSW (Pogonoski et al. 2002).

Citation:	Pollard, D., Gordon, I., Flaherty, A. & Pogonoski, J. 2003. Orectolobus maculatus. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 January 2009.
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