Occurs throughout Australia but rare off southern Tasmania (Ref. 6871). Also found in the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819). Enters large coastal bays and inshore areas occasionally. Dusky whalers avoid estuaries and areas of low salinities (Ref. 244). Migratory behavior suggests a single stock in the area. Records of long migrations in Western Australia start from the region between Augusta and Shark Bay, then to as far away as Rowley shoals off the northwest coast and Esperance on the southeast coast (Ref. 13842). Dusky whalers migrate following the warmer water southwards in the spring and summer, and northwards in the autumn and winter. Seasonal, inshore-offshore movements also occur when pregnant females move from outer continental shelf regions onto the inner shelf to pup, and move back after giving birth.

Commercial fishery: In Western Australia, major catch areas are from between the Albany and Busselton regions of the Southwest Shark Fishery. Dusky whalers are caught mainly with bottom set gillnets, bottom set longlines, droplines, and handlines. Newly born and small juveniles of around 100 cm TL are primarily exploited (Refs. 6871, 13842). In the South Australian inshore fishery, dusky whalers are caught in west coast bays, Spencer Gulf and Gulf St. Vincent, off the Murray River mouth and the southeast coast. Juveniles of less than 150 cm TL are caught with large mesh bottom set gillnets and bottom set longlines. They are sold fresh and frozen and is very popular in the fish-and-chip trade.

Recreational fishery: Jetties such as at Giles Point and Rapid Bay in South Australia, and Lorne and Point Lonsdale in Victoria are frequented by gamefishers for catching dusky whalers. They use moderately heavy lines with wire or light chain traces, and gamefishing tackle. About 5% of all sharks caught by the New South Wales gamefishing clubs between Port Macquarie and Sydney are dusky whalers. Sharks belonging to family Carcharhinidae only comprise 24% of the total shark catch (Ref. 26106).

Resource status: Juveniles are mostly targeted in this fishery. However, the extent of the nursery areas is not known so the level of exploitation cannot be determined. There is not much information on the status of the adults as well. Current levels of fishing maybe sustainable probably because the stocks are not being fished over the extent of their range due to their migratory habits (Ref. 13842).

Also Ref. 244, 2334, 7300, 9997.