What Is the Fate of Amputee Sawfish?

Habitat use and site fidelity of neonate and juvenile green sawfish Pristis zijsron in a nursery area in Western Australia

“…Despite this, it is of concern that in the few short visits in 2011 and 2012 by our research team, we witnessed evidence of trophy-collecting of saws and illegal gill-netting negatively affecting sawfish (Morgan et al 2016). As the human population is still increasing in northern Western Australia, such incidences may continue and possibly become more prevalent.…”

“…Using this equation, sawfish #28 had an estimated TL of 1949 mm and a TRL of 504 mm. The movement patterns and fate of this individual were discussed in Morgan et al (2016).…”

Sawfish captures in the Queensland Shark Control Program, 1962 to 2016

“…Gillnet fishers need to check their nets regularly and be trained in quick sawfish release procedures that cause minimal damage to the animal, people and fishing gear. Fishers also need to understand that amputating a saw likely causes a slow death by starvation, as the saw does not grow back (Morgan et al 2016). Given that gillnets used in the QSCP were surface-set and thus likely underestimate current relative abundances of sawfishes, and their use has been reduced over time to reduce bycatch, assessment of current sawfish populations along the Queensland coast will require fisheries-independent sampling.…”

“…However, the state-wide fisheries observer program was abolished in 2013. It is unclear how widespread the practise of amputating the saw of sawfish before releasing them is (Morgan et al 2016). Saw-less, live sawfish have recently been observed in Western Australia (Morgan et al 2016) and Queensland waters (pers.…”

Biology and ecology of sawfishes: global status of research and future outlook

“…In the USA and Australia, sawfishes continue to be captured in recreational fisheries, sometimes in large numbers, though the risk of mortality is likely low when they are handled and released properly (Peverell 2005, Waters et al 2014, Prohaska et al 2018. Unfortunately, reports of sawfish being retained or released after the removal of their rostra are still received, even in regions with adequate protections and extensive outreach efforts (Seitz & Poulakis 2006, Morgan et al 2016. These reports highlight the ongoing need for outreach wherever sawfishes are found, so that coastal residents from all user groups that might encounter sawfish will be aware of the laws and can appreciate the multiplicative value (e.g.…”