Occurs mainly off the Northern Territory, Queensland, and northern Western Australia (Ref. 6871). Isolated records from New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and western fringe of the Great Australian Bight (Ref. 6871). Small aggregations occur near the coast of central Western Australia during winter (Ref. 6871). Protected in Commonwealth waters under the Environmental Protection Biodiveristy Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act 1999) as a listed migratory species, under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act in Queensland waters, in the state of Western Australia by an "indefinite closed season" under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 and Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (Ref. 48696). Although not found in Tasmania, it is under the Tasmanian Fisheries Regulations 1996 (Ref. 48696). Also Ref. 247, 7300, 13571, 43278.