International Sawfish Encounter Database

Sawfish Reporting Form

Contact Information Name:

Street Address:

City: State: Zip: Phone: Email:

Time and Date Information Date of Encounter: Time of Encounter:

Encounter location and habitat information - Fill to the best of your knowledge Location - description:

Channel or flat present? Channel     Flat     Both     Neither

Latitude and longitude: (If you are unsure of the latitude and longitude, you can use iTouchMap.com to find the approximate coordinates. We recommend using the "hybrid" view when identifying the coordinates.)

Type of encounter (capture or sighting) # of sawfish: Bottom type (please check all that apply)  Mud  Sand  Pebble  Rocks  Hard bottom (bedrock)  Shell hash  Seagrass  Algae   Habitat at location (please check all that apply)  Inlet/Pass  Mangrove  Canal  Tidal marsh  Beach  Coral reef  Seawall  Open Water   Habitat description

Water depth (give units) Tidal state (high/low/rising/falling)   Estimate Depth   Depth Finder Sea state-wave height Wind direction and strength Rain? Yes No Cloud cover (%) Water chemistry parameters: Temperature Salinity Oxygen level

Encounter information - Fill to the best of your knowledge Activity at time of encounter (e.g. fishing, diving, boating, etc.)

If observed, how close were you to the sawfish

Select type of platform: boat     dock     shore     pier Estimate length (give units) Estimate weight (give units)      Does this measurement include the saw?      Yes    No

Was there a protective sheath on the saw if under 3’?      Yes    No

Did the sawfish have any distinguishing features? (tags, scars, broken teeth or saw)

Sex Tag # Are photographs or video available? Yes     No      May we use the photos for articles, presentations, flyers, etc?      Yes    No How long did the encounter last?

Describe the behavior of the sawfish during the encounter?

Fishing information (if applicable) - Fill in to the best of your knowledge Was the sawfish captured while fishing? Yes     No Where was the animal hooked? Was the hook removed? Was the line/leader wrapped around the saw? Was the line/leader removed? If the line was cut, how much line was left on the animal? Target species Other fish species caught while fishing If captured describe gear, bait, fishing technique, hook size, and hook type (e.g., J or circle hook).

Other How often are you in the area where you saw the sawfish?

How did you find out about reporting a sawfish?

Can you think of anyone else who has seen one? If so, can we have their contact information?

Additional Comments:

Would you like to become involved in sawfish recovery efforts? Yes     No