The endangered Longcomb Sawfish caught off the Jiwani coast lies on the jetty, a picture of the fish available on the internet shows a pair in an aquarium. Photos: Express/file
KARACHI:
Like elsewhere across the globe, ‘World Savfish Day’ was recently observed on October 17 to raise awareness of one of the most endangered marine species. Once found in abundance along the country’s coastline, the sawfish has now become locally extinct, with the last confirmed sighting reported at Khijar Creek in 2018.
Marine experts and conservationists say a combination of factors, including the use of harmful fishing nets, unregulated hunting and climate change, have led to the disappearance of the sawfish from Pakistani waters.
The sawfish, a unique member of the shark family, is easily recognizable by its long, saw-like snout lined with 20 to 30 sharp teeth. It can weigh up to 600 kg and was once commonly found in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf and coastal areas of Pakistan, especially Karachi, Pasni, Ormara and Jiwani.
“Until the 1970s and 1980s, sawfish were frequently seen in coastal areas like Clifton, Keamari, Ibrahim Hyderi and Chashma Goth,” said Moazzam Khan, technical advisor at WWF-Pakistan. “However, with the introduction of nylon nets, which replaced traditional cotton nets, sawfish began to disappear and became the first marine species to become 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 becoming entangled in fishing nets. Conservation agencies have since banned the sawfish trade and are calling for stricter enforcement to prevent bycatch.
The last live sawfish was caught on 29 May 2018, while the second most recent incident involved a dead specimen found on 29 June 2013.
WWF-Pakistan has been working for the past 13 years to protect and reintroduce sawfish in local waters. “Collaborative efforts from all stakeholders are required to ensure any hope of revival,” Khan stressed.
World Savfish Day, initiated by global conservation organizations, aims to highlight 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.
