Distribution, relative abundance and risks from fisheries to threatened Glyphis sharks and sawfishes in northern Australia

Abstract

Glyphis sharks and pristid sawfishes are globally threatened. While some populations still exist in northern Australia, their distributions are poorly quantified. We used catch records from commercial fisheries and independent surveys to estimate the broad distribution and relative abundances of 2 Glyphis sharks (G. glyphis and G. garricki) and 4 pristid sawfishes (Pristis pristis, P. zijsron, P. clavata and Anoxypristis cuspidata) along the coast, estuaries and river systems of the Northern Territory, Australia. Coarse-scale catch data and records from commercial fishing logbooks that report encounters with Threatened, Endangered and Protected species confirm that small, fragmented populations are distributed across the Northern Territory coastline and suggest limited fishery interactions, although underreporting might occur.