Learn about sawfish in Gulf rivers and their endangered status, habitats, and impacts.
This resource provides a clear, easy-to-understand overview of one of Australia’s most iconic and critically endangered river and coastal species found across the Northern Gulf and wider northern waterways.
It explains what Largetooth Sawfish are, including their unique saw-like rostrum used for hunting and defence, and why this distinctive feature also makes them highly vulnerable to entanglement in fishing gear. The resource highlights their dependence on estuaries, rivers, and coastal habitats, especially in northern Australia where the remaining global populations are considered a key stronghold for survival.
The fact sheet also outlines major threats such as bycatch in commercial and recreational fishing, habitat degradation, and historical population decline, helping readers understand why the Largetooth Sawfish is critically endangered. Importantly, it connects this information to conservation efforts, reinforcing why awareness, reporting sightings, and careful fisheries management are essential for their recovery.
Overall, it’s a valuable quick guide for understanding biodiversity conservation, threatened marine species, and freshwater–marine ecosystem connections in northern Australia.
