Western Highfin Spurdog

About the Western Highfin Spurdog

The Western highfin spurdog is a species of deep-water dogfish found off the coast of Western Australia. They live on the continental shelf, at depths of around 300m/984.3 ft.

Due to fact this species has only been described from two specimens, there is very little known about their biology and habitat. They’re presumed to be ovoviviparous. The longest specimen caught was 59 cm/1 ft 11.2 in long.

It is unlikely to be impacted by Australian fisheries, but is occasionally caught by demersal longline fisheries and lobster pots in Malaysia. The level of interaction with fisheries in Southeast Asia is unknown and requires examination. The lack of information on the bycatch of this species in regional deepwater fishing activities warrants a Data Deficient assessment at this time. In Malaysia, the species is utilized for its meat when fresh; it is otherwise discarded (Last et al. 2010).

There are currently no species-specific conservation measures in place for the Western Highfin Spurdog. The Australian North Coast Bioregion and North-west Marine Parks Network includes several marine reserves and marine management areas which are closed to trawling (Fletcher et al. 2017), and may indirectly provide some refuge in this region. Further information is required on the life history, population size, and trends of the Western Highfin Spurdog, as well as interactions with fisheries across its range.

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Western Highfin Spurdog Gallery