NOAA Fisheries announced this week that it has determined the U.S. population of smalltooth sawfish warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). During an extensive status review, scientists determined that the U.S. population of smalltooth sawfish, currently found off South Florida, is in danger of extinction. Biologists estimate that there has been a decline of more than 95 percent of the population. This will be the first marine fish and first elasmobranch listed under the ESA. Elasmosbranchs are fish with skeletons made of cartilage.

For more details on the Smalltooth sawfish action, go to our Protected Resources Endangered Species page at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/species/fish/Smalltooth_sawfish.html or contact David.O'Brien@noaa.gov .