NEW: multilingual sawfish identification guides now available and in use in multiple countries!

Five species of sawfish exist today. However, each species is under threat of extinction. Research and conservation efforts are underway in a number of countries including the United States, Australia and Mozambique. However, to the untrained eye, sawfish can be difficult to tell apart and this can hinder conservation efforts. In their ‘Global Sawfish Conservation Strategy’, the IUCN suggested that the development of a species identification guide was a necessary step to further sawfish conservation. The Sawfish Conservation Society (SCS) has therefore developed multiple guides for all species of sawfish. Already, these guides have been distributed within Australia, Peru, Ecuador, Mozambique, The Gambia and Liberia.

Fishers in Mozambique being interviewed by local researchers with the assistance of the identification guides.

The different sawfish identification guides constructed by the SCS vary in layout and depth of detail. While researchers familiar with the features of a fish may find the “Detailed” guide more appropriate and more informative, fishers with little time to spare to identify a sawfish may find the “Quick and Easy” guide more useful. Still yet, the “Poster” guide may prove to be visually more appealing when posted at a marina or boat ramp. In addition, these guides can be transformed into a brochure/tri-fold pamphlet by printing them on the opposite side of the “Pamphlet Backing” and folding in thirds.

The four different identification guides and the pamphlet backing now available on the SCS website.

Each guide lists a number of features on the sawfish body and saw that are the most useful in identifying each species. Although a single feature can sometimes be used to identify a species, it is best to use multiple features to ensure accurate identification. In addition to listing these features, when combined with the pamphlet backing, each guide presents details of how to help conserve sawfish, where to report sawfish encounters and provides information regarding the SCS.

Currently, the identification guides are available in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. We also have plans to offer additional languages including, at a minimum, Brazilian Portuguese and Arabic. Each guide has also been formatted to fit on Letter and A4 sized paper. All guides, languages and formats are available here on the SCS website.

Students learning how to identify sawfishes during a school visit by SCS volunteers.

While the standard guides are available online in a PDF version, these guides can be customized for specific purposes. Customizations can include the addition of a company’s logo and contact details, narrowing of the number of species present on the guide (useful if only a few species occur within an area where the guides will be distributed) or translation of the guide into a specific language not yet provided. Interested parties should contact the SCS at sawfishconservationsociety@gmail.com to inquire about such changes. In addition, printing of the PDFs available online can result in some pixilation of images when printed on some printers. If this should occur, please contact the SCS at the above address and a Word document will be sent to you to remedy this issue.

Many thanks are owed to the numerous people that have helped in the making and distribution of the identification guides. Most notably, these people include Nicole Phillips and Barbara Wueringer who assisted in the design of the guides, Ruth Leeney, Vanessa Figueroa, Rachel Graham, Ruth Higgins, Jeremy Kiszka and Jaime Penadés Suay who were vital in the translation of the guides, and Dana Bethea, John Carlson, David Morgan, Jason Stapley and Dean Thorburn whose photos are displayed within the guides.

If you have a suggestion on how to improve these guides, find a mistype or would like to assist in translating these guides into another language please contact the SCS at sawfishconservationsociety@gmail.com.

Sawfish identification pamphlets available at information centers, fishing stores and truck stops throughout Western Australia.

A new chapter in sawfish research - The Eastern Tropical Pacific

In March, Ruth Leeney (Protect Africa's Sawfishes) teamed up with Kerstin Forsberg and her team at Peruvian NGO Planeta Oceano, to provide a training workshop on sawfish biology, ecology and identification and on interview survey techniques for the collection of baseline data on sawfishes. More than 25 students attended, including staff from IMARPE (Instituto del Mar del Peru), students from the Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí in Manta, Ecuador, and even a student from Chile. In this blog post, some of the course participants write (in both Spanish and English) about their experiences learning about sawfishes and interviewing fishermen in northern Peru. Protect Africa's Sawfishes and Planeta Oceano are also collaborating with Dr. Rigoberto Rosas Luis in Ecuador, and the study will be expanded later this year to other parts of the Eastern Tropical Pacific. We have very little up-to-date information about sawfishes in this part of the world, so it will be fascinating to see what this project reveals!

Un nuevo capitulo en la investigación del pez sierra: El Pacífico oriental tropical

En marzo, Ruth Leeney (Protect Africa´s Sawfishes) con Kerstin Forsberg y su equipo de Perú ONG Planeta Océano, se unieron en equipo para crear una reunión de trabajo y entrenamiento sobre la biología del pez sierra, ecología y identificación, y sobre técnicas para aplicar entrevistas que sirven para colectar datos sobre el pez sierra. Más de 25 estudiantes estuvieron presentes, en el grupo se incluyó a personal del IMARPE (Instituto del Mar del Perú), estudiantes de la Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí de Manta Ecuador, incluso se contó con la participación de un estudiante de Chile. En este blog algunos de los estudiantes escribieron (en ingles y español) sus experiencias aprendiendo sobre el pez sierra y las entrevistas realizadas a los pescadores en el norte de Perú. Protect Africa´s Sawfishes y Planeta Océano están colaborando con el Dr. Rigoberto Rosas Luis en Ecuador para extender el estudio, con la finalidad de aprender mas del pez sierra en el Pacífico Oriental Tropical. Hay muy poca información sobre el pez sierra en esta parte del mundo, por ello será fascinante ver lo que estos estudios revelarán.

Students, Planeta Oceano staff and volunteers at the sawfish training course in Tumbes, Peru.

Lilith Rios

Estudiante de Biología Pesquera de la Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí.

Experiencia sobre el Curso Internacional Investigación y Conservación de Tiburones y Rayas, Módulo 1: Pez Sierra. 

La participación en el Curso Internacional Investigación y Conservación de Tiburones y Rayas para mi constituyo un paso importante sobre todo  hacia la protección y conservación de especies amenazadas y que son importantes en los ecosistemas marinos mundiales. Es el caso del primer módulo dictado por la Dra. Ruth Leeney el cual trato sobre peces sierras y el eminente peligro en el cual se encuentran las especies de este grupo. Se trataron temas importantes como la biología y otros aspectos de la pesca de esta especie, en general existe poca información sobre esta especie en el Pacífico. La Dra. Ruth Leeney nos compartió información sobre el trabajo que ella lleva a cabo en África con especies de peces sierras las cuales también se encuentran en un eminente peligro. Su experiencia en este tema fue sustancial para que las personas que asistimos al taller pudiéramos captar con precisión los conocimientos que nos quería trasmitir. Parte importante del proyecto del pez sierra fue el nuevo trabajo que en lo personal me toco realizar, esto son las encuestas, una parte importante para realizar proyectos de conservación pues la interacción con los pescadores, saber llegar a ellos, fue clave para obtener información valiosa sobre el pez sierra Pristis pristis en aguas peruanas. Es así como para mí la experiencia y conocimientos obtenidos con este módulo del pez sierra es muy sustancial en el camino hacia la investigación de esta especie en aguas ecuatorianas.

Lilith Ríos 

Fisheries Biology student, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí.
My experience of the International Course on the Research and Conservation of Sharks and Rays, Module 1: Sawfish. 

My participation in the International Course in Research and Conservation of Sharks and Rays was an important step in my studies, because of the importance of protecting and conserving endangered species, which are important for marine ecosystems of the world. The first module, presented by Dr. Ruth Leeney, covered the five different sawfish species and the threats they face, sawfish biology and other aspects. In general, information on sawfishes in the Pacific is lacking, compared to other areas. Dr. Ruth Leeney shared with us the information of her investigation on sawfishes in Africa, where they are equally endangered. Her experience in this field was valuable for all the students attending the course. An important part of the sawfish project is the new method that I had to use - interview surveys. This method is a key part of any conservation project because it encourages interaction between researchers and fishermen. Conducting good-quality surveys was key to obtaining valuable information of the sawfish Pristis pristis in Peruvian waters. To me the experience and knowledge obtained during the sawfish course will be crucial in implementing research on this species in Ecuadorian waters.

Dr. Rosas Luis interviewing fish vendors at Puerto Pizarro, northern Peru.

Jonathan Pincay 

Estudiante de Biología Pesquera de la Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí.

La experiencia que obtuvimos en el seminario de pez sierra (Pristis pristis) fue de mucho interés, ya que gracias a este logramos conocimientos más específicos. Por ejemplo cómo llegar a extraer información de distintas personas que no se sienten seguras de contar sus anécdotas vividas a través del tiempo con esta especie.

Recibimos varias instrucciones para realizar encuestas claras y precisas que permitieron poder entablar una conversación con las personas relacionadas con el sector pesquero. Las visitas a la comunidad de Tumbes (Perú) y sus distintas caletas pesqueras fueron muy amenas, y gracias a Planeta Oceano que nos permitió obtener mejores conocimientos para poder emprender nuevas investigaciones o proyectos que pueden ayudar a nuestras costas ecuatorianas.   

Jonathan Pincay

Fisheries Biology student, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí.

Feedback session with students. Photo: R. Borruat.

The experience we obtained in the training course on sawfishes was very important, as we learned specific details about these species. For example, we learned how to use interview surveys to get information about sawfishes though time, from the anecdotes of individuals. We learned about the correct way to carry out interview surveys to collect clear and precise information from individuals working in the fisheries sector. The visits to landings sites and ports in the Tumbes area (northern Peru) were great. I am grateful to Planeta Oceano for supporting my attendance at the course, which has provided me with new skills and the knowledge to create new research and projects in Ecuadorian waters. 

Planeta Oceano staff conducting interviews with fishermen at Puerto Pizarro.

Planeta Oceano's sawfish research is funded by the Mohammed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. Ruth Leeney was supported by the Swiss Shark Foundation.Thanks also to Elizabeth Stephenson of the New England Aquarium's Marine Conservation Action Fund, for linking Planeta Oceano with Protect Africa's Sawfishes and encouraging collaboration to advance sawfish research and conservation!