Critically Endangered Sawfish Spotted Twice: Florida and Australia in One Week
A critically endangered sawfish was recorded in two events within a single week, in Florida and Australia's Northern Territory, while a new study shows only 6 of 35 historical genetic lineages remain of the species (Pristis pristis).
The Territory Wildlife Park in Australia's Northern Territory welcomed a new largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis) as part of the World Wildlife Day activities held on 5 September 2026, in partnership with traditional Malak Malak rangers from the Daly River region, according to a report broadcast by ABC News on 7 September.
On the other side of the ocean, angler Michael Messiano caught a small, healthy smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) while fishing from the beach in Bonita Springs, Florida, on 5 September, releasing it immediately after confirming it was unharmed, according to WINK News, which relayed the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) call to report any sawfish encounter to help enrich scientists' data.
Why does the sawfish raise global concern?
The sawfish (family Pristidae) ranks among the most threatened marine fishes; all five species are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. A study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B in August 2026 found that only 6 of 35 historical genetic lineages of the species (Pristis pristis) remain in contemporary populations, reflecting a sharp decline in genetic diversity since 1878. Scientists stress that the sawfish is a ray, not a shark, and that protecting nursery habitats and river estuaries is essential for its survival.