The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group
Shark News 14: March 2002
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Sawfish Trade in the North of Brazil
Patricia Charvet-Almeida
Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Brazil
In the North of Brazil, one of the regions' most famous fish markets is the
"Ver-O-Peso" in the city of Belém (State of Pará). Sawfish are routinely
captured and their meat, fins and rostral expansion (saw) are sold in
local markets. Two species of sawfish (Pristis perotteti and P. pectinata)
have been observed to be landed at the "Ver-O-Peso".
The flesh of sawfish is white and tender, especially that of the
juveniles, and is one of the most valuable and preferred of the other
elasmobranchs sold locally. Fins, usually removed on board as
soon as a sawfish is caught, are obviously far more valuable than
the meat, but are considered to be of intermediate quality by local
fin buyers.
Saws going through the last part of the drying process before they are sold. Photo: Patricia Charvet-Almeida.
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The saws are also removed on board and dried on the boat deck
along with the fins. Large saws (1.5 m or more) are sold immediately
upon arrival of the fishing boats. Fishermen usually sell these saws
to specific buyers who order them prior to the departure of the
boats. These large saws are worth up to US$ 300 depending on their
size, are used as curios, and are probably taken to other regions of
the country or exported. Small sized saws, from newborn and
juvenile sawfish, are sold as curios to tourists, and to locals as part
of a regional folklore treatment of asthma. This treatment consists
of grinding the saw to a powder and mixing it with hot water to
make a tea. This tea is considered very effective by many, although
there is no medical evidence on the possible beneficial effects.
Pieces of the rostral expansion are often sold since a whole saw is
not required for this treatment. Small saws also have another, rather
unfortunate use: the saw teeth are removed and tied to rooster legs
as sharp "weapons" to be used in illegal cockfights.
Sawfish are extremely vulnerable to most fisheries since their
saw becomes easily entangled in almost any kind of fishing net.
When brought aboard, sawfish thrash around, and depending on
how entangled the animal is, the only way to free it from the net
(without destroying the fishing gear) is to kill and cut up the animal.
Older fishermen have commented that regionally the number of
catches has reduced significantly over the last 10-15 years.
All seven species of sawfish are listed as either Endangered or
Critically Endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species
(www.redlist.org) and the listing of sawfish under CITES should be
reconsidered, in addition to the implementation of urgently needed
management and protection measures, in order to prevent further
population declines taking place.
Patricia Charvet-Almeida
Rua Mundurucus
Paseig Maritím de la Barceloneta, 37-49
2445 ap.1202-Batista Campos
Brazil
Email: pchalm@nautilus.com.br
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