It is found in the Indo-Pacific off China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Pakistan, the Philippines, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Vietnam and possibly Australia.

High exploitation levels and significant declines in elasmobranchs, rays, and whiprays indicate a dire situation.

[2] The Javanese cownose ray faces extensive fishing pressures, with both targeted and bycatch capture, across the entirety of its range.

[2] In specific regions like the northern South China Sea, intense overfishing has led to a drastic decline in fish stocks over the years.

[2] Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a pervasive issue in the Indo-Pacific region.