Why are sawfish on the Endangered Species List?
The population of smalltooth sawfish off the shores of Florida and the United States has severely declined over the last century. There were two major reasons for this: 1) sawfish were often caught as bycatch in commercial and recreational fisheries, and; 2) sawfish have limited reproductive potential which limits population recovery. They were easily, and often unintentionally, captured because their saws would become entangled in fishing nets. Sawfish were often landed in recreational fisheries because their saw was a popular trophy item.

How big do sawfish get?
A smalltooth sawfish has been reliably measured at 18-feet, 1 ¾-inches (5.5 meters), but they may grow to over 20 feet (6.1 meters) long. A 16-foot (4.9 meters) long specimen once weighed 700 pounds (317 kg). Smalltooth sawfish are born at 1.5–2.5-feet (0.5–0.8 meters) long.

Are sawfish a type of shark?
No. Sawfish swim like sharks but are actually more closely related to rays, in part because their gill slits are on the bottom of their bodies like stingrays.

What is the saw used for?
The saw is used to obtain food by disrupting the bottom and dislodging any prey items that may be available. Sawfish also slash through schools of small fish, stunning or lacerating them before they are consumed. Sawfish can also use their saw to defend themselves from larger predators like sharks.

Where are sawfish found?
Smalltooth sawfish range in the western Atlantic Ocean from Brazil to the southeastern United States, including the Gulf of Mexico. It is a year-round resident of peninsular Florida and can be found in the summer months as far north as North Carolina, but rarely straying further north.

How old do sawfish get?
No one knows for sure, but they may live for over 30 years. Like other rays and sharks, smalltooth sawfish need several years to mature.

Are sawfish culturally important?
Yes. Tribal societies in Central America, West Africa, Australia, and Papua, New Guinea consider sawfish supernatural beings which bring energy for renewal and bring prosperity to their communities. Some tribes feel sawfish control fish populations by enhancing them. They believe that if the saw is hung over their doors it will keep ghosts out of the houses, and if wrapped in a cloth and hung over a cradle it will stop babies from crying. The Kuna, native to the Caribbean, believe that sawfish are protectors and the sawfish will defend them when they are out at sea and prevent the mariners from drowning.

What do sawfish eat?
Sawfish feed on crabs, shrimp, and other bottom dwelling animals along with any locally abundant small schooling fishes such as small mullet or members of the herring family. The teeth in their mouth are small and flat like stingrays.

Do the saw teeth grow back?
Unlike the teeth in the mouth, if a tooth on the saw is completely lost it is not replaced. However, if teeth are only chipped and the bases are intact they will continue to grow as the animal grows. The smalltooth sawfish usually has 24-32 unpaired teeth per side.

When sawfish are born, do the saw teeth hurt the mother?
No. The saw teeth of young sawfish do not fully erupt and are covered by a sheath made of tissue so they do not injure the mother. The teeth reach their full size proportionate to the size of the saw soon after birth. The saw teeth are actually not teeth at all, but modified scales known as dermal denticles.

Do baby sawfish come from eggs?
Sawfish have internal fertilization and bare live young. The eggs hatch in the uterus and the embryos continue to grow inside the mother without a placental connection. The gestation period, or the carrying of young in the uterus, for smalltooth sawfish is unknown, but largetooth sawfish has a gestation period of about five months. Up to 20 young have been reported in a smalltooth sawfish brood.

What animals eat sawfish?
Sharks are the only known predators of sawfish.

Do sawfish swim with other fish?
Yes. We have had reports of sawfish swimming with small bull sharks and nurse sharks. They can also swim with other sawfish or stingrays.

Are sawfish seasonal?
Yes. Juveniles appear to be more abundant in the spring and summer months in estuaries. Larger sawfish are found closer to shore in the spring.

Do sawfish attack people?
No. However, caution should be taken if a sawfish is caught while fishing for other species because the saw can inflict a serious injury.

How can I report a sawfish sighting?
A sawfish sighting can be reported by calling the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) at 941-255-7403. Reports of sightings may also be e-mailed to the FWRI at Sawfish@MyFWC.com. Please include the date and time of the encounter, the location, the estimated length of each sawfish, the water depth, and any other relevant details.

Where can I find more information about sawfish?
Visit the Sawfish Section for more information.