Is it legal to buy and sell sawfish "saws"?

The FLMNH Florida Program for Shark Research strongly discourages the trading of sawfish parts, including sawfish fins and rostra (also called "saws" or "snouts"). Sawfish populations worldwide are thought to be seriously depleted and are categorized as Endangered by The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, and every effort should be taken in reducing incentives to land or wound these remarkable animals.

The trading of smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) parts, including rostra, meat, and fins, is prohibited in the United States, since this species has gained protection under the US Endangered Species Act of 1973. The enforcement of this new listing began on 1 May, 2003. This includes exportation and importation in and out of US boundaries, and the moving of smalltooth sawfish rostra across state boundaries (even without sale), without first obtaining a permit allowing you to do so. Persons documented buying or selling smalltooth sawfish parts within state boundaries can also be convicted of an illegal act, as the courts have interpreted interstate trade very broadly in the past. The only exception to the prohibition on trade in smalltooth sawfish parts in the US is in the instance where there is documentation that proves that it was obtained more than 100 years ago. In addition to federal ESA protection, the trade of rostra and other parts from this species has been banned under both Florida and Louisiana laws.

The trading of largetooth sawfish (Pristis perotteti) parts, including rostra, meat, and fins, has been banned by state law in Florida and Louisiana. Further protection and conservation measures will likely be added in the future.

All other sawfish rostra are generally legal to buy and sell within the United States, and can be imported and exported through the US, but may be protected by other countries where they occur. Due to the fact that only a few specialized scientists are capable of reliably identifying a given sawfish species based solely on the rostrum, and due to the plight of sawfish populations worldwide, we strongly discourage the US trade of any sawfish rostra.

The information given above should not be considered fact, as we are not experts of US wildlife law, and laws concerning sawfishes may chance more often than we are able to update this Webpage. For specific information concerning the trading and possession of sawfish rostra, please contact the appropriate governmental agency, such as:

(NOAA)
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/overview/es.html

(NOAA, Smalltooth Sawfish)
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/species/fish/Smalltooth_sawfish.html

Are sawfishes threatened or endangered?

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species categorizes all sawfishes as endangered. The smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), in addition to the IUCN Red List designation, is listed under the US Endangered Species Act of 1973 as an endangered species. The largetooth sawfish (Pristis perotteti), while not included under the ESA listing, is still considered a candidate species for future listing.

What are some threats to sawfishes?

Threats to sawfishes included both human-induced and natural causes of injury or mortality.

Human-induced threats include the reduction of coastal habitat through human modifications (i.e., construction of dams, dredge and fill practices, coastal armoring), pollution-related injuries and death, and landings of sawfishes as bycatch and in targeted fisheries for their meat, liver oil, fins, skin (leather), and rostra. Natural threats to sawfishes are poorly known, but include predation by sharks and other large predators, and mortality attributable to red tide (including the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis).

Why should we protect sawfishes?

Sawfishes are important members of tropical and subtropical estuarine communities. Like other top predators, sawfishes perform a valuable function in culling out sick or injured prey species such as schooling fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Sawfishes may play a number of other important roles in estuarine communities that science has not yet learned about. In addition, sawfishes have for centuries been important to humankind both as valuable food and medicinal resources, and as religious and cultural symbols.

Are sawfishes protected throughout the world?

No, some species have earned local protection by specific countries, but none are protected throughout the world. In the future, sawfishes may gain protection under Appendix I of The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), and this listing could reduce international trade of sawfishes and their parts, along with providing fisheries researchers with vital documentation of international trade in sawfishes.

Are there any public aquariums where I can see a live sawfish?

Yes, there are quite a number of aquaria where you can view a live sawfish in captivity. Sawfishes currently kept in public aquaria include: the dwarf sawfish (Pristis clavata), the freshwater sawfish (Pristis microdon), the smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), and the green sawfish (Pristis zijsron). To the author's knowledge, the knifetooth sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata) and the largetooth sawfish (Pristis perotteti) are currently not being displayed in any public aquaria.

As of this printing (November 2005), live sawfishes can be viewed in the United States in the following aquaria:

CALIFORNIA:
Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach: 1 freshwater sawfish
Six Flags Marine World at Vallejo: 1 smalltooth sawfish
COLORADO:
Downtown Aquarium Denver: 2 green sawfish
FLORIDA:
SeaWorld Adventure Park in Orlando: 2 smalltooth sawfish
GEORGIA:
Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta: 5 freshwater sawfish
ILLINOIS:
John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago: 1 green sawfish
MARYLAND:
National Aquarium in Baltimore: 2 freshwater sawfish
MINNESOTA:
Underwater Adventures Aquarium in Bloomington: 2 green sawfish
NEW JERSEY:
Adventure Aquarium in Camden: 1 freshwater and 1 green sawfish
NEVADA:
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas: 3 green sawfish
SOUTH CAROLINA:
Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach: 1 freshwater, 2 smalltooth, and 1 green sawfish
TENNESSEE:
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg: 2 freshwater, 1 smalltooth, and 1 green sawfish
Aquarium Restaurant (Landry's) in Nashville: 1 freshwater sawfish
Downtown Aquarium (Landry's) in Houston: 2 green sawfish

Captive living sawfishes can also be viewed in the following countries outside the United States:

AUSTRALIA:
Sydney Aquarium: 1 freshwater sawfish
Territory Wildlife Park in Berry Springs, NT: 2 freshwater sawfish
Underwater World, Sunshine Coast in Mooloolaba: 1 freshwater sawfish
BAHAMAS:
Atlantis in Paradise Island: 4 smalltooth sawfish
CHINA:
Ocean Park in Hong Kong: 2 freshwater sawfish
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium in Shanghai: 2 freshwater sawfish
COLOMBIA:
Oceanário Islas del Rosario in Islas de Rosario: 1 smalltooth sawfish
FRANCE:
Oceanopolis in Brest: 1 freshwater sawfish
Aquarium de la Rochelle in La Rochelle: 1 freshwater sawfish
L'Aquarium Oceanographique in Vannes: 1 freshwater sawfish
GERMANY:
Berlin Aquarium: 1 freshwater sawfish
Sylt Aquarium in Westerland: 1 freshwater sawfish
INDONESIA:
Taman Akuarium Air Tawar in Jakarta: 2 freshwater sawfish
ITALY:
L'Acquario di Genova in Genova: 2 green sawfish
JAPAN:
Futami Sea Paradise in Futami: 2 freshwater sawfish
Aburatsubo Marine Park Aquarium in Kanagawa: 1 freshwater sawfish and 1 green sawfish
Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido: 2 freshwater sawfish
Shinagawa Aquarium in Tokyo: 2 freshwater sawfish and 1 dwarf sawfish
Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in Yokohama: 1 dwarf sawfish
KOREA:
Busen Aquarium in Busen: 2 freshwater sawfish
COEX Aquarium in Seoul: 1 freshwater sawfish
MALAYSIA:
Underwater World Langkawi in Langkawi: 1 freshwater sawfish
SINGAPORE:
Underwater World Singapore in Singapore: 3 freshwater sawfish
SPAIN:
Oceanografico in Valencia: 2 green sawfish
UNITED KINGDOM:
The Deep in Hull: 2 freshwater sawfish

What should I do if I encounter a sawfish in its natural habitat?

Sawfish are listed under the Endangered Species Act which makes it illegal to harm, harass, or handle them in any way. If you do see a sawfish, enjoy the moment and feel extremely lucky!

It is illegal to hook or net one, except with a permit or in a permitted fishery. Accidental captures do occur while fishing for other species; if a sawfish is hooked or netted, it should be released immediately. Remove as much fishing gear as safely possible - DO NOT REMOVE THE SAW.

What is the safest way to release a captured sawfish?

If hooked:

Keep the sawfish in the water at all times
If it can be done safely, untangle the line if it is wrapped around the saw and remove as much of the line as possible.
Cut the line as close to the hook as possible.
Do not handle the animal or attempt to remove any hooks on the saw unless you have a long-handled dehooker.

If tangled in a net:

Make every effort to free the animal from the net with minimal additional stress or injury.
Keep sawfish, especially the gills, in the water as much as possible.
Try to remove all the netting and release the animal quickly.
DO NOT REMOVE THE SAW!

What can I do to help sawfish conservation efforts?

The Florida Museum of Natural History and Mote Marine Laboratory (both located in Florida) have established a sawfish tracking database to assist in sawfish conservation efforts. If you do accidentally encounter a sawfish, you can greatly help conservation efforts by providing the following information:

Your name, phone number, and email address
Date, time, and location of encounter
Number, size, and behavior of the sawfish at time of encounter
Your activity at time of encounter
Information on any tags, scars, or distinguishing marks

Please report this information to any of the below contacts:

George Burgess
Florida Museum of Natural History
Email: gburgess@flmnh.ufl.edu
Phone: 352.392.2360

Greg Poulakis
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Email:sawfish@myfwc.com
Phone: 941.255.7403

Colin Simpfendorfer
Mote Marine Laboratory
Email: sawfish@mote.org
Phone: 941.388.4441

Answers by:
Jason Seitz

Education

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Sawfish Conservation