Jenkins’ Whipray (Pateobatis jenkinsii) is taken as a utilised bycatch of tangle net, gillnet, trawl net, and dropline fisheries throughout Southeast Asia and parts of the Indian Ocean where inshore fishing pressure is intense. It is caught in particularly high numbers in the target fishery for rhynchobatids operating in the Arafura Sea. Levels of exploitation are very high throughout its range in Southeast Asia and in many parts of the Indian Ocean, hence it is under a severe level of threat within most of this range. Although no species-specific data are available, overall catches of stingrays are reported to be declining in areas of Southeast Asia for which information is available, with fishermen having to travel further and further to sustain catch levels. The species is highly sought after in Southeast Asia for the high value of its skin. Little is known of the subpopulation off southeastern Africa, although the species is probably taken as bycatch of shrimp trawlers there. Fisheries in northern Australia are generally well managed and the introduction of turtle exclusion devices (TEDs) has significantly reduced the bycatch of large stingrays. In Australia,  Jenkins’ Whipray is considered at minimal threat throughout its wide range as there is no information to suggest that this species has declined in this area.

This large species may have limiting life history characteristics that make it biologically susceptible to depletion in fisheries and therefore, efforts should be made to assess and monitor mortality in fisheries and population trends throughout its range. Given the continuation of high levels of exploitation throughout its range in Southeast Asia where the species is caught in multiple types of fisheries, along with evidence for declines in catches of rays, the level of decline (>30% over the last three generations) and exploitation can be inferred from overall declines in fish catches in the region, as well as from habitat loss. Jenkins’ Whipray is assessed as Vulnerable globally based on inferred levels of decline and exploitation across a large part of its range, but is considered to be Least Concern in Australia.