At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The green sawfish is one of the largest sawfishes, a ray with a long tooth-studded snout. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Its saw snags easily in nets, making it highly vulnerable to fishing.
Range & habitat
Coastal and estuarine waters of the Indo-West Pacific, much reduced.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Entanglement in fishing nets
- Habitat loss
- Past targeted fishing
Why it matters
Vanished from much of its former range, the green sawfish is among the most threatened of all sharks and rays and a priority for coastal conservation.
Sources
Sources for Green Sawfish
- IUCN Red List — look up Green Sawfish (authoritative status)
- FishBase
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are sawfishes so vulnerable to fishing?
Their long, toothed snouts tangle very easily in fishing nets and lines, so even fishing aimed at other species frequently kills sawfishes.
Why is the green sawfish Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite entanglement in fishing gear, habitat loss, and past targeted fishing, which erased it from much of its range. See the IUCN Red List.
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