Abstract
Sawfish were once common in the southeastern United States, but became rare during the twentieth century before they were studied. They are protected from harvest in Florida, are considered "at risk of extinction" ' in North America by the American Fisheries Society, and listed as "endangered" by the World Conservation Union. Collections and observations of sawfish in southwest Florida from Charlotte Harbor to northern Florida Bay were documented by soliciting information from anyone who would encounter these fish (e.g., scientists, fishing guides, private citizens). We also circulated a poster (e.g., bait and tackle shops, boat ramps, fishing tournaments) that asked for anyone with any information on these fish since 1990 to contact us (by telephone, mail, or e-mail). Posters were distributed beginning in January 1999 and continue to be maintained from Port Charlotte, Florida (Charlotte County) south to Flamingo, Florida (Monroe County). Each person that had information was asked the same series of questions to determine the date and location of the encounter (collection or observation), estimated total length (ETL), and habitat characteristics. A total of 533 sawfish encounters that occurred between 1990 and 2001 were reported to us. Most sawfish encounters consisted of a single fish caught on hook and line, but groups of 2–20 similar-sized individuals were also reported. Neonates, juveniles, and sexually mature sawfish were found throughout the study area. These data indicate that the overall sawfish population is larger than previously thought; however, the majority of sawfish documented by this study were most likely sexually immature (89% < 3 m ETL). Thus, we support continued protection and conservation efforts and hope these efforts will allow the remaining sawfish populations to grow throughout their range. This study is the first survey on sawfish in Florida.