When you think of Australian wildlife, the green sawfish (Pristis zijsron) might not be the first creature that springs to mind. But new research has revealed that northwestern Australian waters could be a 'lifeboat' for the endangered species.
Green sawfish are distinctive thanks to a tooth-lined ‘saw’ on the front of their body and their unusual hue. But they’re on the verge of extinction due to overfishing and habitat loss.
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However, a study from Murdoch University’s Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, in Perth, has revealed that northwestern Australia could play a key role in the species’ recovery. A group of scientists reviewed decades of research on the green sawfish, with the hope that it could guide future conservation.
“To research something, you first need specimens to study,” explains Jack Ingelbrecht, a researcher at Murdoch University and the study’s lead author. “Naturally, opportunities for green sawfish research will be greater in areas where this species still occurs in relatively high numbers.”
And the resulting review, published in the journal Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, highlighted that northern Australian waters are one of the last remaining strongholds for the green sawfish.
“Our review found that, for decades, Australia has been the global leader in green sawfish research. This is partly because green sawfish populations have been wiped out in parts of Africa and southern Asia, but still exist in Australia,” Ingelbrecht continues.
“We’re fortunate that the main factors responsible for the global decline of sawfish are less severe in northern Australia.”
In the review, the researchers note that “Australia is recognised as a ‘lifeboat’ nation for each of the four sawfish species that occur in the Indo-West Pacific, including P. zijsron.” Within Western Australia, research output in the Pilbara region was higher than for all other regions in the state combined.
“The Pilbara region in particular has become one of the world’s most important areas for green sawfish research, as it still supports relatively healthy populations of this species and provides critical habitat,” says David Morgan, an associate professor at Murdoch University and co-author of the paper.
Their review also highlighted several key knowledge gaps, which need addressing if conservation efforts are to succeed.
“Sadly, when it comes to the research areas most relevant to conservation – the size of remaining populations, the locations of critical habitat, and the number of mature individuals present in the wild – we realised that there’s very little information currently available,” says Ingelbrecht.
But he’s still optimistic that green sawfish populations can recover. “It’s not over yet –there’s still a genuine opportunity to turn things around,” he says. “With the right support, the right research, and the right conservation measures, we can ensure the survival of green sawfish. I hope Australia sets an example the rest of the world can follow.”
Read the full findings here.
