The smalltooth sawfish is not a shark, but a type of ray…and you may not know that after taking a peep at its saw! Rather than having a barb near the tail like its relatives, this fish is equipped with a long saw, or rostrum, that is used for defense and feeding. They once thrived throughout Florida’s coastal waters, but years of overfishing have taken a toll. Thanks to conservation efforts and about two decades of protection under the Endangered Species Act, we have witnessed an increase in population numbers, and individuals have begun to reclaim their historical waters on both sides of the state! Happy International Sawfish Day! We’re celebrating all day on the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Facebook and Instagram! Head over to learn more about our sawfish team’s work researching and conserving this interesting species. If you see or catch a sawfish while fishing for other species, please let us know by calling 1-844-4SAWFISH (1-844-472-9347) or e-mailing [email protected]. These reports are valuable and help scientists around the state conduct their research! For more information, visit bit.ly/2SibJwt