Wild Sawfish Recovery in Florida Waters

Florida's smalltooth sawfish population is recovering from near-extinction through habitat protection and bycatch reduction, offering hope for one of the world's most endangered fish.

Key Facts

Sawfish were once found throughout Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coastal waters but declined by more than 95% by the 1990s
Sawfish are listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and protected under the US Endangered Species Act
Florida's Charlotte Harbor and surrounding estuaries harbor the last viable US smalltooth sawfish population
Accidental bycatch in gill nets was a primary cause of decline and remains an ongoing threat
Juveniles use shallow seagrass habitats as nurseries, making seagrass protection critical for recovery

Welfare Considerations

Sawfish caught as bycatch face traumatic injury from gill nets in which their rostral teeth become entangled. Entanglement stress causes physiological shock and can be fatal even when fish are released. Training fishers in safe sawfish disentanglement and release is critical for improving bycatch survival. Habitat degradation through seagrass loss reduces food availability for juveniles, causing chronic nutritional stress. Recovery efforts must address both acute bycatch welfare harms and chronic habitat-related stressors.

What You Can Do

Support seagrass conservation in Florida's coastal waters
Report sawfish sightings to Florida FWC's Sawfish Encounter Database
Avoid fishing in shallow estuaries known as sawfish nursery habitat
Advocate for gill net restrictions in critical sawfish habitat
Support organizations working on sawfish bycatch reduction and safe release protocols