The smalltooth sawfish is one of five species of sawfishes.  All sawfishes belong to a group of fish called elasmobranchs that includes rays, skates, and sharks. Elasmobranchs have no bones and their skeletons are instead made of cartilage, a firm tissue more flexible than bone. Although shark-like in appearance, sawfishes are actually rays, as their gills and mouths are found on the underside of their bodies. Sawfishes get their name from their distinct rostrum—a long, flat snout edged with teeth—that looks like a saw. Smalltooth sawfish live in tropical seas and estuaries (semi-enclosed areas where rivers meet the sea) of the Atlantic Ocean. They are most at home in shallow, coastal waters, and sometimes enter the lower reaches of freshwater river systems. In the United States, they can be found in Florida’s coastal waters.

Smalltooth sawfish populations declined dramatically during the second half of the 20th century due to habitat loss associated with coastal development and accidental capture in fisheries. In response, NOAA Fisheries listed the U.S. distinct population segment (DPS) of smalltooth sawfish  as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2003; making it the first marine fish to receive federal protection. In 2014, the non-U.S. DPS of smalltooth sawfish was listed as endangered. Under the ESA, it is illegal to catch, harm, harass, or kill an endangered sawfish. However, some fishermen catch sawfish as bycatch (i.e., incidentally while fishing for other species). Safe handling and release guidelines have been developed to guide fishermen how to respond when they incidentally capture sawfish or other protected species.

The smalltooth sawfish is also listed as a migratory species threatened with extinction under the United Nations Environment Programme Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. Participating countries strive to strictly protect these animals, conserving and restoring the places where they live, and mitigating obstacles to migration.

NOAA Fisheries is committed to protecting and rebuilding smalltooth sawfish. Our scientists and partners use a variety of innovative techniques to study and protect smalltooth sawfish, as there is still much to learn about their life history and distribution. To date, we have designated critical habitat for the U.S. DPS, worked with a team of scientists and management partners to develop a recovery plan and continue ongoing public outreach efforts.

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