Sawfish numbers in global stronghold are dropping, prompting calls for fishing protection

Monitoring trip returns from 'stronghold' for species without finding a single sawfish

Numbers of endangered sawfish in one of their most globally important strongholds are dropping, with conservationists calling for rules that will cut the numbers of animals being caught in commercial fishing nets in north Queensland.

In September, a two-week private expedition to monitor and tag sawfish in the Norman River, Queensland, returned without finding a single sawfish.