With growing concerns for the status of shark and ray populations world-wide and increasing pressure to ensure Australia’s 320 species are effectively managed and conserved, there is a need for decision makers in government, conservation advocates, scientists and the public to have access to comprehensive and accurate information to inform policy decisions.

One of the greatest challenges for the sharks and rays is that more than any other taxa, they exist across interests from sustainable fisheries resources to threatened species requiring conservation. Further complicating the assessment and management of these species is that many species’ ranges extend beyond Australia’s territorial waters, where management may implemented differently.

Locally relevant information on the status of sharks and rays, and the synthesis of knowledge about them is critical to identifying and addressing the challenges facing sharks and rays in Australian waters. The publication of the Shark Report Card addressed in many of these issues. However, it covered only a small portion of the ray species that occur in Australian waters.

This project will support the development of a companion to the Shark Record Card. Based on its findings, it will develop a report card addressing current status and interaction of fisheries for all species of Australian rays and update the Shark Report Card for species that have had a material change in their status since the completion of the previous Report Card. Results will be communicated to relevant stakeholders and the Report Card widely disseminated.