How does the global IUCN listing for *Stegostoma tigrinum* contrast with the Australian coastal population listing?
Global is Endangered, Australian is Least Concern
There is a notable divergence in the conservation status assigned to *Stegostoma tigrinum* depending on the geographic scope considered. Globally, the species is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This severe listing is driven by widespread threats such as habitat degradation and intense pressure from inshore fisheries across much of its range. In stark contrast, the localized population found along the Australian coast is categorized as Least Concern. This positive status in Australia is attributed to effective localized management strategies and the presence of protected reef systems, which successfully buffer this specific subpopulation from the intense fishing pressures experienced elsewhere in the species' vast Indo-West Pacific distribution.
