Research And Kids To Help Save Endangered Sawfish And Spear-Tooth Sharks

August 24, 2007

Release from: Queensland Gov. (Australia)

The Cape York community of Mapoon, including school students, have joined the quest to save the freshwater sawfish and spear-tooth shark, two critically endangered creatures of the deep native to their area.

Biologists from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and CSIRO recently completed a three-week study trip to Mapoon with the aim of better understanding these creatures and their habitat.

Leader of DPI&F's sawfish acoustic tagging study, Stirling Peverell is working in collaboration with spear-tooth shark study leader, Dr Richard Pillans of CSIRO.

They have attached acoustic tags to the dorsal fins of 14 spear-tooth sharks and one 4.2m sawfish to track their movements. This was the largest sawfish to be acoustically-tagged in Australia.

Mr Peverell, a fisheries biologist based in Cairns, took time during his visit to explain the tagging research and engage the support of the local commercial fishers, community and especially the school children.

He said the research focused on short- and long-term relationships between the spear-tooth shark (Glyphis sp.A) and freshwater sawfish (Pristis microdon) and their shared habitat.

"The Mapoon region is the only area in Queensland where the spear-tooth shark occurs," he said.

"It is found in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, but presumed extinct on the east coast of Queensland.

"We are keen to know where they live and see how they use their habitat.

"When we have this information, we will be better able to advise commercial fishers on how to reduce their impact on this species.

"The spear-tooth shark is a docile creature that is a traditional food of the Aboriginal people on the Cape."

The acoustic tags emit an acoustic 'ping' to allow CSIRO and DPI&F researchers to track and map the movements of the fish in waterways and the sea. The tags also provide readings on temperatures, turbidity, salinity and tides.

"We have installed secured moorings for listening stations 7km apart along the crocodile-infested Wenlock River," Mr Peverell said.

"These listening posts will give us accurate information about the position of sawfish and spear tooth sharks.

"We believe the big sawfish we tagged in Wenlock River was a mature male seeking to catch up with females."

All four species of sawfish - freshwater sawfish, narrow sawfish, green sawfish and dwarf sawfish - will eventually be tagged in the area.

The Mapoon school students were advised of the program and encouraged to keep an eye out for sawfish and spear-tooth sharks in the area.

"They are studying marine animals in school, so the young people will actually be helpful to the program," Mr Peverell said.

Sawfish and spear-tooth shark numbers have declined dramatically around the world and have been listed under the International Union for Conservation of Nature as critically endangered.

Australia is a signatory to this treaty and the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Water Resources (DEWR) is overseeing Australia's responsibilities.

The joint project is funded by a DEWR Marine Species Recovery and Protection Grants program.