Presence of the smalltooth sawfish in the Cuban Archipelago

Abstract

The smalltooth sawfish Pristis pectinata is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A greater focus on the status of sawfish globally, including Cuba, is yielding much needed information on the status of this species. Interviews were conducted in 2011, 2019, and 2022 (n = 473) with coastal community members from 80 sites throughout Cuba to assess whether sawfish are still extant in Cuban waters. Traditional ecological knowledge results show sawfish encounters (n = 33) at 26 sites in Cuba since the 1960s. Northern Camagüey province was identified as the region with the highest number of sightings, with the most recent in Cárdenas Bay in 2019. The highest number of sightings occurred in relatively deep water and along the coral reef drop off. Reports, specimens, and rostra represented a wide range of sizes, from very young to mature individuals collected throughout Cuba’s northern and southern shores, suggesting the persistence of a resident population, though occasional movements between Cuba and neighboring countries are possible. We recommend the following actions to better understand and protect sawfish in Cuba: (1) amending the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Chondrichthyes in the Republic of Cuba to include specific measures that address sawfishes; (2) designing and implementing sawfish awareness, outreach, and encounter recording programs that focus on raising awareness and reducing threats to sawfish, including best handling practices; and (3) conducting genetic studies to assess whether Cuba’s population is resident or shared with the Bahamas and/or Florida.