Marine experts and conservationists say that a combination of factors, including the use of harmful fishing nets, unregulated hunting, and climate change, has led to the disappearance of the sawfish from Pakistani waters.
The sawfish, a unique member of the shark family, is easily identifiable by its long, saw-like snout lined with 20 to 30 sharp teeth. It can weigh up to 600 kilograms and was once commonly found in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and coastal regions of Pakistan, particularly Karachi, Pasni, Ormara, and Jiwani.
“Until the 1970s and 1980s, sawfish were frequently spotted in coastal areas such as Clifton, Keamari, Ibrahim Hyderi, and Chashma Goth,” said Moazzam Khan, Technical Advisor at WWF-Pakistan. “But with the introduction of nylon nets, which replaced traditional cotton ones, sawfish began to vanish, becoming the first marine species to go locally extinct in Pakistan.”
According to conservation data, three species of sawfish were once native to Pakistan. Tragically, most sawfish deaths occurred due to their long snouts getting entangled in fishing nets. Conservation bodies have since banned the trade of sawfish and are advocating for stricter enforcement to prevent bycatch.
The last living sawfish was caught on May 29, 2018, while the second most recent incident involved a dead specimen found on June 29, 2013.
WWF-Pakistan has been working for the past 13 years to protect and reintroduce sawfish into local waters. “Collaborative efforts are required from all stakeholders to ensure any hope of revival,” Khan stressed.
World Sawfish Day, initiated by global conservation organisations, aims to spotlight the critical threats facing this rare species and to promote global efforts to conserve it. Conservationists hope that by raising awareness, the international community and local authorities can work together to prevent the complete extinction of this iconic marine creature.