Sabrina Sabbir is a researcher working with sawfish and other
elasmobranchs in Bangladesh. She has just completed her M.S. from the
University of Dhaka, which focused on abundance of elasmobranchs in Bangladesh.
During Sabrina’s project she recorded landing records of Largetooth Sawfish in
Bangladesh and is planning to continue her work with sawfish in this area, as
there is still much to be learned. Check out her recent publication on some of
this work here:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329555585_Recent_records_of_large_tooth_sawfish_Pristis_pristis_Linnaeus_1758_from_Parerhat_of_Pirojpur_district_in_the_southwestern_Bangladesh
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The third sawfish
landed that was recorded by Sabrina
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1. Can you give people a brief overview about how sawfish are involved
in your graduate work?
For my M.S. thesis project, I have worked on the species abundance,
landing trends and percentage contribution of elasmobranchs in the southwest
region of Bangladesh. My working station was at Parerhat, Pirojpur; situated
northwest of the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, where sharks
and rays are mainly landed as a result of bycatch. Traditionally, people have
been fishing out of Parerhat for the past 50-70 years. In this region, sharks
and rays are mostly landed in the Mohipur and Dublar Char landing stations
situated near the Sundarbans, only a few are brought to Parerhat for the local
traders. They are irregularly landed throughout the year but regularly during
the dry season, from November to March; being dried up and exported to the
shark fin market of Chittagong and then placed in the international
market. On my first field visit, I could
not find any fresh elasmobranch samples for data collection at the landing
market, but I witnessed rows of dried shark fins, jaws and other body parts in
the riverside drying factories. The large number of huge dried fins and jaws
made me curious to investigate their source. It was on this trip that I
collected my first sawfish saw sample. During my one-year working period, I collected
about 10 landing records of Largetooth Sawfish from that small landing port and
most of them were reportedly caught near the mangrove forest.
2. Were you interested in sawfishes before you began your graduate work
at the University of Dhaka? If so, how/when did you first become interested in
sawfishes?
Since I was a teenager, I wanted to work on behalf of the voiceless
innocent souls of animals. Fascination and love for the animal world grew in me
from childhood. The mysterious underwater world of the ocean has always been a
source of attraction to me. Before starting my graduate work, my supervisor
sent me on a field trip with a research team at Cox’s Bazar Fisheries Landing
Station, Chittagong. I observed the landing of larger sharks, rays, marlins,
crabs, and many other marine species. During this visit, a feeling of pain
arose in my gut with a question of “Why are they being caught?” That question
helped me to select my research topic on elasmobranchs. We were surveying for
elasmobranch catches and specifically looking for the threatened sawfish. We
have searched for sawfish in different landing stations and drying factories in
southeast Bangladesh, but we could not find any. Later I made my first research
trip to Pirojpur and there I collected my first sawfish saw sample. In two and
half months, I collected two more sawfish landing records. The relatively
frequent landings of this Critically Endangered fish on that small landing port
encouraged me to work on the sawfish and their landings in that region.
3. What is the attitude of fishermen towards scientists in your area?
What about their attitude towards conservation?
The Fish Act of Bangladesh does not possess any restriction over
catching sharks and rays while the Wildlife Protection Act (2012) does restrict
the catch in and around the Sundarbans. Anglers of the southeast (St. Martin’s
Island, Cox’s Bazar; Chittagong) do not have to face the restriction or threats
from the coast guards. They are very cooperative towards the scientists. They
play a very important role in major scientific processes by providing their
time and sharing their traditional knowledge. The scenario is opposite in the
southwest region, near the mangrove forest areas. The fishers here are
monitored by the coast guards. They are not that open to the citizen science
data collection process. In the beginning, it was very difficult for me to gain
their trust. Amusingly, I had to convince them that I was not an agent for the
coastguards. After gaining their trust, they helped to run the research.
4. Do you have a favorite field story you would like to share?
Collecting the first sawfish saw sample was an exceptional experience
for me.
On a regular interview session with the local fishers, they were telling
about an expensive fish with a large saw that was being caught by them three
months ago near the Sundarbans. With immense curiosity, I asked them several
questions about the morphology of that species and they were giving accurate
information. I showed them a picture of a sawfish and they agreed that is what
they caught. To my utter surprise, they eventually brought out the saw to show
me, and then I believed them. I encountered the first ever saw of an
unfortunate sawfish in my life on 17 March 2017. It was from a juvenile Largetooth
Sawfish.
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| The first sawfish saw sampled and seen by Sabrina |
5. Do you think stronger enforcement or more outreach would be a better
start to helping reduce exploitation of sawfish in this area?
Yes, indeed. My study recorded all juvenile sawfishes captured as
by-catch near the forest water, which raises an alarm for local population
extinction of this Critically Endangered species. This study also suggests that
the Sundarbans is an important habitat for the juvenile sawfishes but the rate
that they are being caught at is posing threat to their existence. Here most of
the catches remain unreported and unregulated due to the lack of proper
monitoring, citizen data science programs, and strong enforcement of laws. Lack
of awareness among the fishers about the importance of these critical species
should be addressed by strong developmental and sustainable projects regularly.
Knowledge about conservation, habitat protection and awareness among the rural
fishers can hopefully change the scenario.
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The second sawfish
landed that Sabrina recorded
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6. Do you have any advice for aspiring scientists in your area?
Stick to your passion and improve your skill. For countries like
Bangladesh, funding limitation is a big issue for research work. I had to do
part-time jobs to run my fieldwork. Later I got a government scholarship. It
may seem tough at the beginning, but whatever it seems we have to start, we
have to take the first step. We have to ask for help whatever the complication
is about.
Once I was very confused in identifying a shark species. I sent the
photo to many local researchers but there was no reply. After two months, I
sent an email to Dr. Samuel H. Gruber, for help. To my utter surprise, he
replied to me within a few hours, and Dr. Dean Grubbs helped me to identify
that species. Yes, I was surprised because it was the first email that I sent
to renowned shark researchers and they answered my questions within a few
hours. I am very grateful to them for their helpful contributions. I have faced the opposite situations too.
However, those situations made me stronger, helped me to stick to my goals,
and inspired me to run my research work regardless of the situation.
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Sabrina collecting
data during a market visit
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7. What do you plan on doing next? Will you be continuing to work with
sawfishes in Bangladesh?
I am currently working on my research paper and hope to publish it soon.
Yes, I am willing to continue my work on sawfishes of Bangladesh, as
Bangladesh lacks their morphometric, ecological and biological data assessment.
As I have just finished my Master’s program in Bangladesh, I am willing to
pursue higher studies to learn and improve my skill so that I can contribute in
conserving this Critically Endangered species. Being the world’s largest
mangrove forest, the Sundarbans is the most important hotspot for the remaining
sawfish population of Bangladesh and India. To conserve this threatened
species, sustainable projects and outreach programs should be introduced to the
local communities and specifically to the fishers who can play important roles
in conservation. I had planned to run an awareness program among the fisher and
retailer communities, but due to funding limitations could not achieve progress
there. I am applying for small grants so that it will be easier to go forward
in conserving this species.
