Sawfish Conservation
The smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) is one of seven sawfish species that exist worldwide in tropical and sub-tropical rivers,
lakes, and coastal areas. Sawfish are characterized by a long life span, slow growth rates, late maturation, and low fecundity (birth rates).
In addition to these traits, sawfish also become entangled easily in fishing gear, making all sawfish species extremely vulnerable to overfishing
and slow to recover from population depletion. Unfortunately, habitat destruction and overfishing have resulted in the eradication of the
smalltooth sawfish from the majority of its former range. Historically, smalltooth sawfish seasonally migrated as far north as New York.
However, seasonal migrants have not been observed recently, with most smalltooth sawfish observed in Florida waters. The largetooth sawfish
(Pristis perotteti) once inhabited the Gulf of Mexico from Texas to Florida, however the majority of confirmed encounters occurred in Texas.
Largetooth sawfish are now considered to be locally exterpated from U.S. waters, with recent captures occuring in South and Central America.
Click HERE for information regarding the conservation status of the largetooth sawfish (P. perotteti).
Whereas sawfish were once abundant in many areas around the world, they are now very rare. This has prompted the World Conservation Union (IUCN) to
list all sawfish species as "Critically Endangered" on the IUCN Red List. At present, sawfish are the only elasmobranch included in the Appendix 1 of
the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). Based on the contraction in range and anecdotal data, it is likely that the U.S.
population is currently at a level less than 5% of its size at the time of European settlement. The serious depletion of the U.S. population of
smalltooth sawfish was the basis for both the Ocean Conservancy's 1999 petition to list the species as endangered under the
Endangered Species Act (ESA),
and the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) decision to do so on April 1, 2003 (68 FR 15674). Smalltooth sawfish is the first marine fish species to
receive protection under the ESA.
Currently the range of the smalltooth sawfish is primarily limited to waters off the Florida coast, mainly in the southwest region. Under the ESA, it
is illegal to catch, possess, or harm a sawfish. However, some fishermen catch sawfish incidentally while fishing for other species. NMFS and the
Smalltooth Sawfish Implementation Team have developed guidelines for fishermen explaining how to safely handle and release any sawfish caught. This
new level of protection will hopefully help this unique elasmobranch recover to its previous levels of abundance within U.S. waters. From the first
review of the status of the population after being listed, it has been shown that though the population has stablized, it will take many generations
for populations to rebuild and meet the Implemenation Team's objectives. Since listed in 2003, there has been no significant change in the range
limits of the species, with the U.S. population remaining vulnerable to extinction. Though some studies suggest the population may be stable, sawfish
are still at risk due to a depressed population size, restricted range, and continuing threats including habitat degredation and incidental captures.
How you can get involved in the recovery of the U.S. smalltooth sawfish population:
Populations of this species are in decline, making all information about this species invaluable. You can greatly help conservation
efforts both by reporting any sawfish encounter and by passing the word that encounters should be reported to us
using our Sawfish Encounter Reporting Informational Sheet.
Distribute Flyers - Our flyer can be used both as a flyer or as a tri-fold brochure. This allows it to be posted both in brochures supports and in windows and boards. Download our flyer and post it in any place you think it can be read by people potentially visiting sawfish habitat. Appropriate places may include bait shops, dive shops, marinas, bars, and restaurants.
The more people that know about the importance of reporting sawfish encounters, the better for the smalltooth sawfish. We need to increase public awareness to obtain the most timely and accurate information. Any assistance distributing information on sawfish is greatly appreciated and will contribute to ongoing sawfish conservation efforts.
Report a sawfish encounter - Download our Sawfish Encounter Reporting Form and visit our
Sawfish Encounter web page.
Thank you for helping us assist in the recovery of the U.S. smalltooth sawfish population by reporting your sawfish sightings and captures!
