Chance to learn about sawfish at talk

Nature lovers have the chance to learn about sawfish during an information session at Deception Bay this month.

Talking about Sawfish is the first in a series of Environmental and Sustainability Community Awareness Presentations for 2025.

It will be held at Redcliffe Environmental Forum Hub, 7 Joseph Crescent, Deception Bay, on February 20 from 7-9pm.

Sawfish are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

A 2021 study found Australia is the last stronghold on earth for four out of five species of sawfish, as these iconic fish become extinct elsewhere.

Although sawfish are protected from targeted commercial and recreational fishing in Australia, they are often caught in gillnets and trawler nets because their distinctive saw-like rostrum is easily entangled.

When caught in nets, sawfish often have their rostrum cut off because of a perceived or real threat to fisher safety, resulting in the sawfish’s death from blood loss and starvation.

They have been protected in Queensland since 2009, but as their tooth-studded rostrum is potentially valuable, and bycatch difficult to avoid with current gear, there is evidence of illegal catches.

UniSC PhD candidate Nikki Biskis will share her knowledge on sawfish during the presentation.

She is working with Dr Kathy Townsend and Dr Bonnie Holmes of UniSC and Dr Barbara Wueringer of Sharks and Rays Australia.

She is consolidating field work in the remote river systems of Cape York and the east coast of Queensland with citizen science and historical ecology.

To register for the presentation, visit the website.