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Article: Smalltooth sawfish: the USA's first endangered elasmobranch? (Marine Matters).
- Article from:
- Endangered Species Update
- Article date:
- May 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Abstract
The smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) population in US waters has declined dramatically over the past century, and today it occurs in only a small fraction of its former range. For the most part, the decline in the population went unnoticed until scientists began raising concerns in the early 1990s. The population decline is attributed to fishing (both commercial and recreational), habitat modification, and sawfish life history. In response to concerns about the sawfish population the National Marine Fisheries Service has been evaluating its status and whether it should be listed on the Endangered Species List. With its listing in 2002, the ...