The sharks are now off limits for recreational and commercial anglers.

Hammerhead sharks are not usually targeted by either local recreational anglers or the commercial fishermen at the Bermagui co-op, but are occasionally spotted at Montague Island off Narooma.

Great hammerhead sharks, including juveniles, were however being caught and butchered at the Tathra Wharf earlier this summer, despite shark fishing not being allowed at that location.

“Following a detailed assessment, both species are now totally protected, meaning that they may no longer be taken by recreational or commercial fishers,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“It is an offence to harm, sell or possess threatened species or damage their habitat without a specific permit, licence of other appropriate approval.

“Penalties for breaching these rules can be severe, ranging up to $220,000 and two years in prison.”

The threatened species are particularly susceptible to population depletion.

“Hammerheads have late onset of maturity, long gestation periods, produce relatively few pups and have high rates of pup mortality,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“Scalloped hammerheads can also form dense aggregations and large migratory schools that are highly vulnerable to fishing.

“Other shark species listed as protected are the grey nurse shark as critically endangered and the great white shark as vulnerable.”

Further information on protected species can be found on the Fisheries Scientific Committee’s website at www.fsc.nsw.gov.au

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