Sawfish and River Sharks Multispecies Recovery Plan: (Pristis pristis, Pristis zijsron, Pristis clavata, Glyphis glyphis and Glyphis garricki).

The Sawfish and River Sharks Multispecies Recovery Plan: (Pristis pristis, Pristis zijsron, Pristis clavata, Glyphis glyphis and Glyphis garricki) (2015) sets out the research and management actions necessary to stop the decline of, and support the recovery of five species in Australian waters. Three sawfish species are listed as vulnerable under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), northern river sharks are listed as endangered and speartooth sharks as critically endangered.
The primary objective of this recovery plan is to assist the recovery of sawfish and river sharks in Australian waters with a view to improving the population status leading to the removal of the sawfish and river shark species from the threatened 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. The specific objectives of the recovery plan are to: Objective 1: Reduce and, where possible, eliminate adverse impacts of commercial fishing on sawfish and river shark species. Objective 2: Reduce and, where possible, eliminate adverse impacts of recreational fishing on sawfish and river shark species. Objective 3: Reduce and, where possible, eliminate adverse impacts of Indigenous fishing on sawfish and river shark species. Objective 4: Reduce and, where possible, eliminate the impact of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU) on sawfish and river shark species. Objective 5: Reduce and, where possible, eliminate adverse impacts of habitat degradation and modification on sawfish and river shark species. Objective 6: Reduce and, where possible, eliminate any adverse impacts of marine debris on sawfish and river shark species noting the linkages with the Threat Abatement Plan for the Impact of Marine Debris on Vertebrate Marine Life. Objective 7: Reduce and, where possible, eliminate any adverse impacts of collection for public aquaria on sawfish and river shark species. Objective 8: Improve the information base to allow the development of a quantitative framework to assess the recovery of, and inform management options for, sawfish and river shark species. Objective 9: Develop research programs to assist conservation of sawfish and river shark species. Objective 10: Improve community understanding and awareness in relation to sawfish and river shark conservation and management.
This recovery plan should be read in conjunction with the accompanying issues paper which has been developed to provide background information on the biology, population status and threats to the species.