Western Gulper Shark

About the Western Gulper Shark

The Centrophorus westraliensis, or Western Gulper Shark, is a lesser-known species found in the demersal waters of southwestern Australia,  from Shark Bay to Cape Leeuwin. They inhabit the continental slopes of their limited range in depths of 616 to 750 metres/2,021.0 to 2,460.6 ft.

This small-moderately sized shark is born at an average of 30 cm/11.8 in in total length. Adults are commonly at least 92 cm/3 ft 0.2 in long.

The Western Gulper Shark is not in an area where there is significant fishing efforts being taken place and is not known to be taken commercially. However, along with other gulper sharks, this specific species is highly vulnerable due to its limited range and has a low rate of population increase. Furthermore, The Southwest Commonwealth Marine Reserve network will only provide limited protection across their range.

It may be incidentally caught in the Western Deepwater Trawl Fishery, which operates across its range and it may be retained for its liver oil and meat. Effort in the fishery is now minimal but effort and total catches were higher in the earlier years of the fishery in the late 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. Catches of Western Gulper Shark in the fishery are unknown though it has been noted in recent years as rarely encountered. The species has been identified as at high risk in the fishery due to its low productivity and high susceptibility to capture, and as effort could increase in the fishery, conditions on fishery permits were implemented in 2011 to limit its retention and encourage live release. The Western Gulper Shark is very susceptible to population depletion when fished, and the impact on the species in the early years of the fishery when effort and catches were higher is unknown. The species also has a relatively restricted range that is entirely encompassed by the fishery. Since it is unknown if fishing has caused a population reduction, there is currently inadequate information to assess the Western Gulper Shark beyond Data Deficient.

Since 2011, there have been conditions for dogfish (Centrophorus, Deania, Squalus) on Western Deepwater Trawl Fishery fishing permits that include the Western Gulper Shark (as C. harrissoni). These specify that the combined dogfish take (retained and discarded) does not exceed 15 kg and 90 kg whole weight per day for trips under and over six days, respectively, and that all dogfish brought onboard alive must be released immediately (AMFA 2011, 2023a). The species would receive some refuge in the Commonwealth South-west Marine Parks Network which include zoning and gear restrictions (Parks Australia 2024). Further research is needed on population size and trends, and life history, and catch rates should be monitored and reported.

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Western Gulper Shark Gallery