Posted on 04/07/2003 10:25:53 AM PDT by cogitator
Sawfish Granted Endangered Species Act Protection
WASHINGTON, DC, April 3, 2003 (ENS) - The government has listed the smalltooth sawfish as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. This is the first endangered listing for a marine fish in U.S. waters, according to the announcement by the National Marine Fisheries Service on Monday.
Scientists estimate the original U.S. population of smalltooth sawfish has declined by 99 percent. It once ranged from the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico to North Carolina, but the species is now found only in the Florida Keys and Everglades National Park.
"This is an animal that inhabits shallow coastal waters of tropical seas and estuaries very close to muddy and sandy bottoms and is not seen very much," said Bill Hogarth, assistant administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"With this listing, we hope that people will become more aware of this vulnerable sawfish, and will help in our efforts to save it for future generations."
The smalltooth sawfish is a large, sharklike fish that can grow more than 18 feet in length and live for some 20 years. Its name comes form a tooth-studded, snout that looks like a saw blade.
Conservationists hailed the decision to protect the species, which has declined due to habitat loss and incidental take by fishers.
"Sawfish are among the most endangered and yet under-protected fish in the world," said Sonja Fordham, Ocean Conservancy fish conservation project manager with The Ocean Conservancy. "In the United States, the Endangered Species Act will provide the recognition and impetus for conservation that is crucial to saving this unique animal from extinction."
The Ocean Conservancy petitioned for the listing of the species in 1999. The petition also requested protection for the largetooth sawfish, but the government has decided not to list the species.
Sawfish Conservation Biology Homepage
Here's an example of a totally benign species being severely impacted by human activities. I hope the ESA listing will enable it to survive.
Nothing wrong with it; but fishermen in that region may have to take extra precautions now to make sure that they don't injure or harm any of them that they might catch accidentally (which is the only way they're caught; they don't have any commercial value except for exhibits in large touristy aquariums).
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