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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Pristis zijsron

 – Critically Endangered

Taxonomy

Kingdom: ANIMALIA
Phylum: CHORDATA
Class: CHONDRICHTHYES
Order: RAJIFORMES
Family: PRISTIDAE
Scientific Name: Pristis zijsron
Species Authority: Bleeker, 1851
Common Name/s:
English—NARROWSNOUT SAWFISH
French—POISSON-SCIE
Spanish—PEJEPEINE, PEZ SIERRA
Taxonomic Notes: The genus Pristis is taxonomically chaotic with uncertainty regarding the true number of valid species (Compagno and Cook 1995a). The practical difficulties associated with resolving these taxonomic issues are acute, since it is extremely difficult to obtain specimens or tissue samples from these increasingly rare species for taxonomic research. P. zijsron is a member of the ‘Pristis pectinata complex’, probably also containing P. clavata, with narrow-based, less tapered, lighter rostral saws, with more numerous (usually over 23), smaller teeth than species of the Pristis pristis complex.

Assessment Information

Red List Category & Criteria: CR A2bcd+3cd+4bcd    ver 3.1 (2001)
Year Assessed: 2006
Assessor/s: Compagno, L.J.V., Cook, S.F. & Oetinger, M.I.
Evaluator/s: Valenti, S.V., Gibson, C. & participants of the Shark Specialist Group Subequatorial Africa workshop (Shark Red List Authority)
Justification: A very large, formerly common, Indo-West Pacific sawfish recorded mainly in inshore marine habitats, also reported from freshwater. Like all sawfishes, it is extremely vulnerable to capture by target and bycatch fishing throughout its range, which has contracted significantly as a result. All populations are now very seriously depleted, with records having become extremely infrequent over the last 30 to 40 years.
History:
2000-Endangered (Hilton-Taylor 2000)

Geographic Range

Range Description: This Indo-Pacific species has been recorded from South Africa to the Persian/Arabian Gulf, Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and the Indo-Australian Archipelago (Fowler 1941, Blegvad and Løppenthin 1944, Smith 1945, Bigelow and Schroeder 1953, Stead 1963, Misra 1969, Grant 1972, Paxton et al. 1989, Compagno et al. in press b, Last and Stevens 1994). Freshwater records have been made from Thailand, possibly in the Tachin River and Songkhla Lake (where the species has not been recorded for many years, Cook and Compagno 1994), Malaysia, Indonesia (Kalimantan at Bandjermassing, Java and Ternate Islands) and in Australia from Queensland in Lake Macquarie, and New South Wales in the Clarence River (Fowler 1941, Smith 1945, Stead 1963, Grant 1972, Paxton et al. 1989, Last and Stevens 1994, Compagno et al. in press b).

Contraction of the range of this species has been reported in Australia, where green sawfish once occurred at least as far south as Sydney, but now are virtually extinct in New South Wales and are very rarely found south of Townsville (CSIRO Media Release - Ref PR04_158 - Sep 01, 2004), and in South Africa, where sawfishes are apparently no longer resident in areas such as Lake St Lucia.
Countries: Native:

Australia (New South Wales, Queensland); Cambodia; China; India; Indonesia (Jawa, Kalimantan); Malaysia; Mauritius; Mozambique; Myanmar; Oman; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Somalia; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Viet Nam
FAO Marine Fishing Areas: Native:

Indian Ocean-eastern; Indian Ocean-western; Pacific-northwest; Pacific-western central

Population

Population: No information available on original population size or abundance, but this formerly common very large sawfish has undergone significant contraction of its range and a huge decline in abundance in areas where it is still reported to occur.
Population Trend: Down

Habitat and Ecology

Habitat and Ecology: Pristis zijsron inhabits muddy bottom habitats and enters estuaries (Allen 1997). It has been recorded in inshore marine waters to at least 40 m depth, in brackish water (estuaries and coastal lakes) and in rivers. Stead (1963) reported that this species was frequently found in shallow water. Its habitat is heavily fished and often also subject to pollution, habitat loss and degradation from coastal, riverine and catchment developments.

This is the largest sawfish species, growing to at least 5 m and possibly over 7.3 metres long. Males are mature by 430 cm (Last and Stevens 1994). It is ovoviviparous, giving birth to large young. Grant (1978) suggested that adult males use their saws during mating battles. Sawfishes generally feed on slow-moving shoaling fish such as mullet, which are stunned by sideswipes of the snout. Molluscs and small crustaceans are also swept out of the sand and mud by the saw (Allen 1982, Cliff and Wilson 1994). A male captured as a juvenile survived 35 years in captivity.
System: Freshwater; Marine
List of Habitats:
9.9Marine Neritic - Seagrass (Submerged)
9.10Marine Neritic - Estuaries
10.1Marine Oceanic - Epipelagic (0-200m)
12.4Marine Intertidal - Mud Flats and Salt Flats
13.4Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes

Threats

Threats: This species has been exploited intensively, both as a target species and as incidental bycatch in commercial, sport or shark-control net fisheries and for aquarium display throughout its range. As a result of past landings, combined with its strongly K-selected life history pattern, it has become severely depleted in recent decades and now appears to have been extirpated from many parts of its range, including South Africa, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. It also has not been seen in some of its former freshwater habitats (i.e., Songklha Lake, (Malay Peninsula) Thailand for some 30 to 40 years (Cook and Compagno 1994). The species is probably now only easy to find in Australia, where it is commonly entangled in net gear set for barramundi (Lates calcarifer), considered a good eating species for human consumption and finds ready markets where landed (Last and Stevens 1994). Even in Australia, the species has declined significantly in range and abundance. In the past, net fishermen working the muddy estuaries of the Queensland coastline found high bycatch of Pristis zijsron to be a serious problem, even though the meat was high quality and marketed (Grant 1978, Pognoski et al. 2002). An average of 0.0020 Pristis zijsron (standard deviation of 0.0020) per hour trawled per km of headrope length (n/h/km) were taken as bycatch in the Northern Prawn Fishery in the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1997 to 1998 (Stobutzki et al. 2000). In the Moreton Bay area there have been no reports of this species since the 1960s (Johnson 1999). It has also been extremely rare anywhere on the east coast of Australia in the last 25 to 30 years, with no new specimens having been secured by museum and research institute collections (Pognoski et al. 2002).
List of Threats:
1.1.6Habitat Loss/Degradation - Agriculture - Marine aquaculture (ongoing)
1.1.8Habitat Loss/Degradation - Agriculture - Other (ongoing)
1.1.9Habitat Loss/Degradation - Agriculture - Unknown (ongoing)
1.3.1Habitat Loss/Degradation - Extraction - Mining (ongoing)
1.3.3Habitat Loss/Degradation - Extraction - Wood (ongoing)
1.4.1Habitat Loss/Degradation - Infrastructure development - Industry (ongoing)
1.4.2Habitat Loss/Degradation - Infrastructure development - Human settlement (ongoing)
1.4.3Habitat Loss/Degradation - Infrastructure development - Tourism/recreation (ongoing)
1.4.6Habitat Loss/Degradation - Infrastructure development - Dams (ongoing)
3.1.1Harvesting (hunting/gathering) - Food - Subsistence use/local trade (ongoing)
3.1.2Harvesting (hunting/gathering) - Food - Sub-national/national trade (ongoing)
3.2.1Harvesting (hunting/gathering) - Medicine - Subsistence use/local trade (ongoing)
3.5.2Harvesting (hunting/gathering) - Cultural/scientific/leisure activities - Sub-national/national trade (ongoing)
4.1.1.1Accidental mortality - Bycatch - Fisheries-related - Hooking (past, present)
4.1.1.2Accidental mortality - Bycatch - Fisheries-related - Netting (ongoing)
4.1.1.3Accidental mortality - Bycatch - Fisheries-related - Entanglement (ongoing)
6.3.1Pollution (affecting habitat and/or species) - Water pollution - Agriculture (ongoing)
6.3.2Pollution (affecting habitat and/or species) - Water pollution - Domestic (ongoing)
6.3.3Pollution (affecting habitat and/or species) - Water pollution - Commercial/Industrial (ongoing)
6.3.6Pollution (affecting habitat and/or species) - Water pollution - Oil slicks (ongoing)
6.3.7Pollution (affecting habitat and/or species) - Water pollution - Sediment (ongoing)
6.3.8Pollution (affecting habitat and/or species) - Water pollution - Sewage (ongoing)
7.1Natural disasters - Drought (ongoing)
9.1Intrinsic factors - Limited dispersal (ongoing)
9.2Intrinsic factors - Poor recruitment/reproduction/regeneration (ongoing)
9.5Intrinsic factors - Low densities (present, future)
9.7Intrinsic factors - Slow growth rates (ongoing)
9.9Intrinsic factors - Restricted range (ongoing)
10.1Human disturbance - Recreation/tourism (ongoing)

Conservation Actions

Conservation Actions: India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests has protected sawfishes under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972 since 2001.

This species may occur in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia.

The species was listed as an Endangered Species in New South Wales (Australia) waters in 1999, under the Fisheries Management Act 1994.

Listed as Endangered by the Australian Society for Fish Biology.

Nominated and considered for listing as Vulnerable under the Commonwealth's Endangered Species Protection Act 1992, but listing not made because of lack of information.

Actions needed: Strict legal protection throughout range; monitoring of bycatch; collection of biological and demographic data from accidental captures and aquarium specimens.
List of Conservation Actions:
1.1.1Policy-based actions - Management plans - Development (in place, needed)
1.1.2Policy-based actions - Management plans - Implementation (needed)
1.2.1.1Policy-based actions - Legislation - Development - International level (needed)
1.2.1.2Policy-based actions - Legislation - Development - National level (in place, needed)
1.2.1.3Policy-based actions - Legislation - Development - Sub-national level (needed)
1.2.2.1Policy-based actions - Legislation - Implementation - International level (needed)
1.2.2.2Policy-based actions - Legislation - Implementation - National level (needed)
1.2.2.3Policy-based actions - Legislation - Implementation - Sub-national level (needed)
2.1Communication and Education - Formal education (needed)
2.2Communication and Education - Awareness (needed)
3.1Research actions - Taxonomy (needed)
3.2Research actions - Population numbers and range (needed)
3.3Research actions - Biology and Ecology (needed)
3.6Research actions - Uses and harvest levels (needed)
3.8Research actions - Conservation measures (needed)
3.9Research actions - Trends/Monitoring (needed)
4.1Habitat and site-based actions - Maintenance/Conservation (needed)
4.2Habitat and site-based actions - Restoration (needed)
4.4.1Habitat and site-based actions - Protected areas - Identification of new protected areas (needed)
4.4.2Habitat and site-based actions - Protected areas - Establishment (in place, needed)
4.4.3Habitat and site-based actions - Protected areas - Management (in place, needed)
4.4.4Habitat and site-based actions - Protected areas - Expansion (needed)
5.3.1Species-based actions - Sustainable use - Harvest management (needed)
5.3.2Species-based actions - Sustainable use - Trade management (needed)
5.4Species-based actions - Recovery management (needed)

Bibliography

Bibliography:

Allen, G.R. 1982. A Field Guide to Inland Fishes of Western Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth, Western Australia.

Bigelow, H.B. and Schroeder, W.C. 1953. Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Part 2: Sawfishes, Guitarfishes, Skates and Rays; Chimaeroids. Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Blegvad, H. and Løppenthin, B. 1944. Fishes of the Iranian Gulf. Part 3. Danish Scientific Investigations- Iran. Einar Munksgaard, Copenhagen.

Cliff, G. and Wilson, G. 1994. Natal Sharks Board's Guide to Sharks and other Marine Animals. Natal Sharks Board.

Compagno, L.J.V. and Cook, S.F. 1995. The exploitation and conservation of freshwater elasmobranchs: status of taxa and prospects for the future. The biology of Freshwater elasmobranchs. The Journal of Aquariculture and Aquatic Science. 7: 62–90.

Compagno, L.J.V. and Cook, S.F. 2005. Order Pristiformes, sawfishes. In: S.L. Fowler, M. Camhi, G.H. Burgess, G.M. Cailliet, S.V. Fordham, R.D. Cavanagh, C.A. Simpfendorfer, and J.A. Musick (eds) Sharks, rays and chimaeras: the status of the chondrichthyan fishes. IUCN SSC, Cambridge, UK and Gland, Switzerland.

Compagno, L.J.V., Cook, S.F. and Oetinger, M.I. 2005. Knifetooth, pointed, or narrow sawfish Anoxypristis cuspidata (Latham, 1794). In: S.L. Fowler, M. Camhi, G.H. Burgess, G.M. Cailliet, S.V. Fordham, R.D. Cavanagh, C.A. Simpfendorfer, and J.A. Musick (eds) Sharks, rays and chimaeras: the status of the chondrichthyan fishes. IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Daley, R.K., Stevens, J.D., Last, P.R. and Yearsley, G.K. 2002. Field Guide to Australian Sharks and Rays. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Australia.

Fowler, H.W. 1941. The fishes of the groups Elasmobranchii, Holocephali, Isospondyli, and Ostariophysi obtained by United States Bureau of Fisheries Steamer Albatross in 1907 to 1910, chiefly in the Philippines Islands and adjacent seas. Bulletin of the United States National Museum (100) 13: 1-879.

Fowler, S.L., Cavanagh, R.D., Camhi, M., Burgess, G.H., Cailliet, G.M., Fordham, S.V., Simpfendorfer, C.A. and Music, J.A. 2005. Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras: The Status of the Chondrichthyan Fishes. IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Grant, E.M. 1978. Guide to fishes. Department of Harbours and Marine, Brisbane

Hilton-Taylor, C. (compiler). 2000. 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Johnson, J.W. 1999. Annotated checklist of the fishes of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 43(2), 709-762.

Last, P.R. and Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO, Australia.

Misra, K.S. 1969. Elasmobranchii and Holocephali. In: M.L. Roonwal (ed.) The fauna of India and the adjacent countries. Pisces (second edition). Zoological Survey of India Series. Government of India Press, Faridabad.

Paxton, J.R., Hoese, D.F., Allen, G.R. and Hanley, J.E. 1989 Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 7. Pisces. Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Australian Biological Resources Study, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra

Pogonoski, J.J., Pollard, D.A. and Paxton, J.R. 2002. Conservation Overview and Action Plan for Australian Threatened and Potentially Threatened Marine and Estuarine Fishes. Environment Australia, Canberra, Australia. (See http://www.deh.gov.au/coasts/publications/marine-fish-action/index.html).

Shark Specialist Group. For more information, see the Specialist Group website.

Smith, H.M. 1945. The fresh-water fishes of Siam, or Thailand. United States Government Printing Office, Washington D.C.

Stead, D.G. 1963. Sharks and rays of Australian seas. Angus and Robertson, Sydney, Australia.

Stobutski, I., Blaber, S., Brewer, D., Fry, G., Heales, D., Jones, P., Miller, M., Milton, D., Salini, J., van der Velde, T., Wang, Y-G., Wassenberg, T., Dredge, M., Courtney, A., Chilcott, K. and Eayrs, S. 2000. Ecological Sustainability of Bycatch and Biodiversity in Prawn Trawl Fisheries. Final report to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. Report No. 96/257.

Citation: Compagno, L.J.V., Cook, S.F. & Oetinger, M.I. 2006. Pristis zijsron. In: IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 29 August 2008.
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