Short note: An assessment of the status of sawfishes and of guitarfish landings in artisanal fisheries in Ghana

Two species of sawfish (Pristidae) formerly inhabited the eastern Atlantic: the smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) and the largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis). Both are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Limited information is available on the historical occurrence of sawfishes in the Gulf of Guinea, or on current landings of sawfishes and other Rhinopristiformes. A rapid interview study was conducted in 2018 to assess the current status of sawfishes and to collect basic information on fisheries for guitarfishes in Ghanaian waters. Of 28 interviewees, only five recalled seeing a sawfish during their lifetime. At least two species of guitarfishes - blackchin guitarfish (Glaucostegus cemiculus) and common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) - were caught by fishermen and were primarily landed between November and February. Opportunistic photographs of landings suggested that G. cemiculus was the most commonly caught guitarfish species. Interviewees reported catching between two and 60 individuals per week during the peak guitarfish season. Guitarfish meat is sold and consumed locally; fishermen could sell guitarfish fins for up to US$55 per kg. The findings suggest that sawfishes are locally extinct in Ghana and that management of the guitarfish fishery is urgently required to ensure those species do not meet the same fate.

Automated summary

A rapid interview study conducted in Ghanaian waters revealed that sawfishes are locally extinct in Ghana and urgent efforts are needed to manage the guitarfish fishery to prevent the same fate for these species.