Sri Lanka Sawfish May Survive in Hidden Coastal Refuges

A fisher in southern Sri Lanka caught something extraordinary in brackish waters a decade ago: a juvenile sawfish, proof that these ancient rays were still breeding somewhere along the island's coast.

That discovery now fuels hope for researchers racing to save sawfish from disappearing entirely from Sri Lankan waters. The last confirmed sighting was in 2017, when a fisher in eastern Trincomalee caught one and was so struck by its unusual appearance that he photographed and framed it.

The Blue Resources Trust interviewed 300 fishers from 21 harbors across Sri Lanka's coastline to understand what happened to these distinctive creatures. Not a single fisher under age 30 could identify a sawfish from photographs. Among those who recognized them, half hadn't seen one since 1992.

Older fishers told a different story. Those over 50 remembered sawfish as far more common, with some even recalling using their distinctive tooth-edged snouts to build fences that kept stray dogs away from drying fish.

Three sawfish species once thrived in Sri Lankan waters: the narrow sawfish, largetooth sawfish, and green sawfish. All are now critically endangered globally, victims of overfishing and habitat loss. Their saw-shaped rostra easily tangle in fishing nets, making them especially vulnerable to accidental capture.

Biology works against their recovery. Sawfish grow slowly, mature late, and produce few offspring. Even small increases in deaths can devastate populations for decades.

Marine biologist Rima Jabado warns the species may now be "functionally extinct" in Sri Lanka, meaning too few individuals remain to sustain breeding populations. But that juvenile caught in Balapitiya's brackish waters suggests otherwise.

The Bright Side

Researcher Sahan Thilakaratna says shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and river mouths serve as critical nursery grounds where sawfish breed and raise young. These brackish habitats might harbor small surviving populations that researchers haven't yet found.

The team is calling for comprehensive surveys to identify and protect these potential refuges. If sawfish are still breeding in hidden coastal areas, protecting those habitats could give populations the sanctuary they need to slowly rebuild.

All sawfish species now enjoy protection under international trade agreements, and fishers' vivid memories confirm these creatures once flourished in Sri Lankan waters. What disappeared can sometimes return, given the right protection and enough time.