Hug This Animal: Sawfish

The sawfish may not be cuddly, but it needs your hugs in a big way.

All seven species of the sawfish have been declared either endangered or critically endangered by the IUCN Red List. And the smalltooth sawfish was the first sea fish added to the Endangered Species List in the US. The smalltooth sawfish can only be found in the US off of Florida’s coast.

Worldwide, all sawfish are in trouble.

Sawfish are highly modified rays that evolved from sharks over the course of millions of years. They have tooth-lined snouts (also known as rostrums or saws) used for finding and killing fish. Some species of sawfish may become as heavy as 2,000 pounds. They enjoy chilling on the sea bottom near the shore.

What’s troubling the sawfish?

Well, it’s sort of that marvelous snout they use to catch fish. It’s also good at getting caught in fishing nets. Unfortunately, many sawfish die as bycatch. Like many endangered species, the sawfish are also troubled by habitat loss. Extensive coastal development is leaving the sawfish with less area to call home. And since the sawfish grows so slowly, the reproductive rates are low. Even if current conservation efforts are successful, it may be 100 years before the smalltooth sawfish flourishes again.

How can you help the smalltooth sawfish in the US?

The MOTE Marine Laboratory has a few ideas for you:

•Report sawfish encounters by calling 800.691.6683 or e-mail sawfish@mote.org.

•Looking for an internship? Check out how you can help in person.

•If you accidentally catch a sawfish while fishing, remember it’s illegal to harm it. Practice quick and safe release.

•Read more about the sawfish recovery plan. (Go to bottom of linked page to download the PDF.)

•Perhaps most important of all, spread the word. Not many people know that the sawfish is in big trouble.

What do you think of this very interesting and endangered sawfish?

Image via flickr.