Taxonomy and naming
| Current scientific name | Rhincodon typus [66680] |
| Common name | Whale Shark |
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
- Class Chondrichthyes
- Order Orectolobiformes
- Family Rhincodontidae
EPBC legal status and documents
EPBC listing status
Listed as Vulnerable as Rhincodon typus (Date effective 16-Oct-2001).
Under threatened listing assessment, due 31-Oct-2030.
Listed Migratory - EPBC Act as Rhincodon typus, Bonn as Rhincodon typus.
Conservation planning documents
- Conservation advice: includes a statement about why the threatened species or ecological community is eligible to be listed under the EPBC Act, the main factors that are the cause of it being eligible for listing, as well as information about what can be done to stop its decline and support its recovery.
- Recovery plan: includes a description of the threats to the listed threatened species or ecological community as well as actions needed to stop its decline and support its recovery. The Minister decides whether a threatened species or ecological community would benefit from the preparation of a recovery plan (in addition to existing Conservation Advice) drawing on advice from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee.
- Protection statement: includes information about what must be protected to ensure the survival and recovery of the listed threatened species or ecological community in the wild. Protection statements are optional and the Minister for the Environment determines whether a protection statement is prepared for a listed threatened species or ecological community.
- Threat abatement plan: includes information on research, management and other actions needed to reduce impacts of key threatening processes listed under the EPBC Act.
- Wildlife conservation plan: includes information on measures required to protect species that are listed as migratory or marine under the EPBC Act.
- Marine bioregional plan: includes information on key ecological features in the Commonwealth Marine Area as well as measures to protect marine species and habitats.
| Conservation advice | Threatened Species Scientific Committee (2015). Conservation Advice Rhincodon typus whale shark. Canberra: Department of the Environment. In effect under the EPBC Act from 1 Oct 2015. | 2015 | |
| Recovery plans | There is no adopted or made Recovery Plan for this species. | ||
| Recovery plan decision Recovery Plan not required, details follow: A Conservation Advice for Rhincodon typus, in effect under the EPBC Act from 01-Oct-2015, is available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/66680-conservation-advice-01102015.pdf An approved Conservation Advice is an effective, efficient, and responsive document to guide the implementation of priority management actions, mitigate key threats, and support the recovery of this EPBC Act listed Vulnerable species. There are no substantial current threats to Rhincodon typus in Australian waters. Western Australia is the only jurisdiction where the species is commonly encountered; WA has a comprehensive management plan in place. The necessary management measures (i.e. ban on harvesting, tourism management plans) are in place and have strong support from stakeholders. Australia is an active member of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks and is working through this MOU with neighbouring jurisdictions on a coordinated approach to the conservation of migratory sharks, including the whale shark. Having regard to the above factors, the public comments received under s 269AA(5), the approved Conservation Advice for Rhincodon typus, the TSSC's initial and final advice that a Recovery Plan is not required for this species, the precautionary principle, and the recommendations of my department on this decision, I, Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, have decided that a Recovery Plan is not required as it would not provide a significant conservation planning benefit above existing mechanisms. (28/03/2022) Initial Recovery Plan Decision: recovery plan required as it had a recovery plan in force at the time the legislation provided for the Minister to decide whether or not to have a recovery plan (19/2/2007) . |
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| Threat abatement plans | No Threat Abatement Plan has been identified as being relevant for this species. | ||
| Marine bioregional plans | Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (2012). Marine bioregional plan for the North-west Marine Region. Canberra: Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. In effect under the EPBC Act from 27 Aug 2012. | 2012 | |
| Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (2012). Marine bioregional plan for the Temperate East Marine Region. Canberra: Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. In effect under the EPBC Act from 27 Aug 2012. | 2012 |
Other Commonwealth documents
Status on other lists
State listing
No listings.
Non-statutory listing
IUCN
Listed as Endangered (Global Status: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: 2026.1 list)
Non-government documents and websites
There are no available non-government documents or websites.
Distribution
This distribution is part of the Species of National Environmental Significance dataset. Distributions are indicative and represent modelled habitat based on best available data at the time of mapping.
Superseded Commonwealth documents
Non-current Commonwealth documents
Caveat
SPRAT provides statutory information on threatened species and ecological communities, migratory species, marine species, and species and species products subject to international trade and commercial use protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act). While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of information linked from external sources, the Commonwealth does not guarantee, and accepts no responsibility for, the accuracy, currency or completeness of this information. The Commonwealth is not liable for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the use of, or reliance on, information contained in this database. The information is not intended to be a complete source of information on the matters it covers. Individuals and organisations should consider all available information, including information from other sources, when determining whether a referral, permit application or exemption under the EPBC Act may be required.