In Australia, S. spinosissimus has been identified or protected under several pieces of legislation. All syngnathids are listed as Protected Aquatic Biota in Victoria, Australia and the Tasmanian Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 prohibits the take of all syngnathids in Tasmania by non-permit holders, since September 1994 (Pogonoski et al. 2002). As well, all syngnathids became subject to the export controls of the Commonwealth Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982 from 1 January 1998 (Pogonoski et al., 2002) All syngnathids and solenostomids were listed as marine species under s248 of the EPBC Act 1999 (Pogonoski et al. 2002).

This species is listed as Data Deficient by the Australian Society for Fish Biology (ASFB) in its 2001 Conservation Status of Australian Fishes document, the most recent AFSB listing available (ASFB 2007). In an Australian overview of the conservation status of threatened marine fishes, it was recommended that further research be conducted in order to accumulate information on the basic biological and population dynamics characteristics of this species (Pogonoski et al. 2002). In addition, the collection of accurate distributional and depth data was recommended in order to identify key habitats (Pogonoski et al. 2002).

Pogonoski et al. (2002) also suggest non-trawl protected areas within the range of S. spinosissimus. Non-trawl areas would protect some wild populations from possible bycatch threats. In addition, monitoring of bycatch from the trawl fisheries would allow for baseline data to be accumulated on abundances, distributions and habitats (Pogonoski et al. 2002). Marine protected areas established in Australia on 28 June 2007 contain benthic sanctuary zones that will allow for some protection of wild populations in addition to providing opportunities to collect baseline data.