The Sawfish Conservation Society (SCS) is partnering with researchers from around the world to launch the See A Saw Citizen Science Sawfish Project in order to better understand the highly threatened sawfishes, and you can help!

Recent research has shown that it is possible to identify the species, size and occasionally the sex of a sawfish from its saw. In addition, researchers are now able to extract  DNA from old sawfish saws, which can be used to gather important information about the genetic health and other aspects of the different sawfish populations. 

Scientists are now taking their research one step further and are looking at regional differences between these saws to see if the measurements and tissue samples from these saws can be used to determine where saws come from and how populations have changed through time.

To do this researchers need measurements from a large number of saws from throughout the world. As such, researchers are asking for you to measure, photograph and report any sawfish saws that you may have. However, it is important to note that you should not hurt a sawfish or remove its saw to obtain this information, nor should you try to obtain this information from a live sawfish. 

If you are interested in becoming a sawfish scientist for a day, please visit our website (www.sawfishconservationsociety.org) and follow the links for the “See a Saw” program. On the webpage you will find multiple links that will take you to the instructions on how to take part in this program, the necessary data sheets and other important information. Please make sure to read all instructions and the disclaimer before you measure and/or photograph your saw. You can also preview the See a Saw video, which is posted to our My Oceans account and at YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sr5J355y40).

We are looking forward to working with you all and appreciate any information you can provide. Thank you for your help in better understanding these incredible and endangered fishes.