The genus Himantura was revised by Last et al. (2016). Himantura, which was once represented widely in the Indo–West Pacific by ~20 species, is now restricted to a group of four large Indo–Pacific species with strong colour patterns (Last et al. 2016). Himantura astra is now within the newly erected genus Maculabatis, along with eight other medium to large marine whiprays that were previously placed in Himantura (Last et al. 2016). Maculabatis astra had previously been confused with Himantura (=Maculabatis) toshi and the two forms had been considered to be a single species, however they are now known to be two morphologically distinct species. However, they cannot be genetically separated and more work is needed to validate they are distinct (Last et al. 2016).

The Blackspotted Whipray (Maculabatis astra) is a medium-sized whipray (up to at least 92 cm disc width) that occurs from inshore to depths of 140 m and is widely distributed throughout tropical Australia and off Indonesia (southern West Papua) and southern Papua New Guinea in the Indo-Pacific. The Blackspotted Whipray is considered common across parts of its range, and is taken incidentally in trawl and net fisheries. Whiprays are frequently landed throughout Southeast Asia and the meat is used fresh or salted and dried for human consumption. Larger rays, like this species, are desired for their skins, which are made into accessories (e.g., handbags). Australian fisheries that overlap with the range of the Blackspotted Whipray are relatively well managed across its range; the introduction of bycatch reduction devices has reduced the catch of whiprays by >95%, particularly larger individuals, and most of these fisheries prohibit shark and ray retention. Many parts of the species’ Australian range has low fishing effort and the species would receive refuge beyond the operational depth of fisheries and in the extensive network of marine parks. However, in Indonesia, fishing pressure is very high, many ray species are highly exploited, and stocks of most species have declined by at least an order of magnitude. In Papua New Guinea, the Blackspotted Whipray is at high risk from a trawl fishery due its large size, low fecundity, and relatively high catch rates. The population trend is suspected to be stable in Australia, however, it is suspected to be declining in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. With a precautionary approach, a global population reduction of 20–29% is suspected over the past three generation lengths (63 years) due to historic and current levels of exploitation. Therefore, the Blackspotted Whipray is assessed as Near Threatened (close to meeting Vulnerable A2d). Further research is needed on taxonomy, population size and trends, life history, and catch rates should be monitored, particularly across its range outside of Australia.

The Blackspotted Whipray occurs across northern Australia, southern West Papua (Indonesia) and southern Papua New Guinea in the Indo-Pacific (Last et al. 2016). Throughout tropical Australia it is widely distributed and occurs between Shark Bay (Western Australia) and Moreton Bay (Queensland) including the Arafura Sea and the Timor Sea (Last and Stevens 2009).

The Blackspotted Whipray is common and abundant in southern Papua New Guinea (PNG) and in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia (Last and Stevens 2009, White et al. 2017, Kyne et al. 2021). In Indonesia and PNG, the species is retained and used for its meat and in PNG, is considered at high risk from the main trawl fishery in which it is caught. Fisheries pressure is very high in Indonesia where catch levels of this species are unknown. The population trend is suspected to be stable in Australia based on limited fishing activities across most of its Australian range and significant refuge at depth and in marine park networks. The population trend in Indonesia and PNG is unknown but based on fishing pressure, population declines in other large whiprays in Indonesia (e.g., Sherman et al. 2021), and the long generation three generation length of Blackspotted Whipray (63 years), the population in Indonesia and PNG is suspected to be declining. Applying a precautionary approach, a global population reduction of 20–29% is suspected over the past three generation lengths (63 years) due to historic and current levels of exploitation. Therefore, the Blackspotted Whipray is assessed as Near Threatened (close to meeting Vulnerable A2d).

The Blackspotted Whipray is demersal and occurs on sandy and muddy substrates and on mangrove flats on the continental shelf from inshore to 140 m depth (Last et al. 2016, White et al. 2017). It is more common offshore in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia (Last et al. 2008). It reaches a maximum size of 180 cm total length (TL) and 92 cm disc width (DW), males mature at ~44 cm DW and females mature at ~67 cm DW (Jacobsen 2007, Last et al. 2016). Reproduction is viviparous with 1–3 pups and size-at-birth of 15–22 cm DW (Jacobsen 2007, White et al. 2017). Female age-at-maturity is 9–12 years and maximum age is estimated at 31 years; generation length is therefore 21 years (Jacobsen 2007).

The Blackspotted Whipray is taken incidentally in trawl and net fisheries. In Indonesia, it is caught in trawl and beach seine fisheries in the Arafura Sea and is retained (White et al. 2006). The species has relatively recently been separated from the Brown Whipray (Maculabatis toshi) and the catch levels of Blackspotted Whipray in Indonesia are unclear. Net and trawl fisheries in Indonesia (especially the Java Sea) are very extensive and as a result, many shark and ray species are highly exploited and stocks of most species have declined by at least an order of magnitude (Blaber et al. 2009). Rays are heavily exploited in Indonesia (White and Dharmadi 2007). In Papua New Guinea, it is commonly caught in the Gulf of Papua Prawn Fishery where it is consumed if retained (White et al. 2017). It is considered at high risk from the Gulf of Papua Prawn Fishery due its large size and low fecundity and relatively high catch rates; the species accounted for 6.6% of the elasmobranch catch by number (White et al. 2017, Baje et al. 2021).

In Australia, the Blackspotted Whipray it is one of the most commonly caught elasmobranchs in the Commonwealth Northern Prawn Fishery where it is considered at low risk of overfishing due to estimated fishing mortality being below levels leading to population reduction (Zhou and Griffiths 2008). The species is also one of the more common rays encountered in the Queensland East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery (ECOTF) where a semi-quantitative risk assessment estimated it as at precautionary high risk from fishing activities (Dedini et al. 2023). This is due to its low productivity and uncertainty about all locations it may be caught (Dedini et al. 2023). A quantitative risk assessment found it to be a low risk from trawling in southern Queensland (Campbell et al. 2018). It is also caught in the Gulf of Carpentaria (GoC) Developmental Fishery and Inshore Fishery, although catches are likely minimal as effort is limited (Jacobsen et al. 2019a, b). The Blackspotted Whipray is possibly caught in the Northern Territory Demersal Fishery (DF) and Western Australian prawn fisheries, and Pilbara Fish Trawl Fishery. Catches in Western Australia fisheries are likely minimal as effort is limited and negligible bycatch has been reported in recent years (Gaughan and Santoro 2021). The species would also have refuge at depth across all Australian fisheries as they operate to a depth of 40 m, with the exception of the Pilbara Trawl Fishery which operates to 110 m depth.

There is illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in northern Australian waters, mostly from small-scale Indonesian fishers using longline and gillnets and previously also from Taiwanese fishers using pair-trawlers, long and gillnets (AFMA 2024). During the 1980s and 1990s, there was a high level of IUU fishing that reduced marine resource stocks, including sharks, and possibly rays. The IUU fishing during that period may have caught this species, although catch levels are unknown. Since 2009, the IUU fishing levels have been relatively low (AFMA 2024).

In Indonesia, this ray is used for its meat, cartilage, and high value skin (White et al. 2006, Last and Stevens 2009). Whiprays frequently are landed throughout Southeast Asia and the meat is used fresh or salted and dried for human consumption. Larger rays, like this species, are desired for their skins, which are made into accessories (e.g., handbags) (e.g., see Sherman et al. 2020).

Since the early-mid 2000s, bycatch reduction devices have been mandated in most Australian fisheries that overlap with the range of the Blackspotted Whipray, reducing the catch of whiprays by >95%, and particularly larger individuals (Griffiths et al. 2006). Retention of elasmobranchs in these fisheries is now prohibited, with the exception of the Queensland Gulf of Carpentaria Inshore Fishery, and the Blackspotted Whipray would be released if caught, although post-release mortality is unknown (Kyne et al. 2021). Across northern Australia, many parts of the species’ range have low fishing effort and the species would receive refuge in the extensive network of marine parks (Parks Australia 2023). Australia has a National Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU Fishing (AFMA 2024). The Gulf of Papua prawn trawl fishery is managed under national laws and regulations, and there are some seasonal closures in place, although bycatch reduction devices are not currently in place. Further research is needed on taxonomy, population size and trends, life history, and catch rates should be monitored, particularly across its range outside of Australia.