Population viability analysis of the critically endangered largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis) in a data-limited region: Northern Bay of Bengal
Hossain, Md.S.; Islam, Md.S.; Khan, S.; Liyana, E.; Chowdhury, G.W.; Sarker, S.; Haque, A.B. (2026). Population viability analysis of the critically endangered largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis) in a data-limited region: Northern Bay of Bengal. Ocean Coast. Manag. 276: 108149. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2026.108149
In: Ocean & Coastal Management. Elsevier Science: Barking. ISSN 0964-5691; e-ISSN 1873-524X, more
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| Keywords |
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| Author keywords |
Data-deficient fishery management; Ecological assessment; Ray; Population viability analysis; Threatened species |
| Authors | | Top |
- Hossain, Md.S.
- Islam, Md.S.
- Khan, S.
- Liyana, E.
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- Chowdhury, G.W.
- Sarker, S.
- Haque, A.B.
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| Abstract |
The Critically Endangered largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis) is facing a severe decline globally, including in the Bay of Bengal. A local market for medicinal use, meat and fin trade drives high retention of bycaught sawfishes, however data limitations prevent quantitative risk assessments in this region. Population Viability Analysis (PVA) is a key method for assessing extinction risk and designing management strategies; however, implementing it in a data-poor region like northern Bay of Bengal (BoB) is challenging. This study aims to conduct a PVA for the largetooth sawfish in a data-poor context and discuss the challenges and utilities. Data on catch, age structure, habitat suitability, environmental parameters of the habitats, and harvest rates were gathered from habitat surveys, fish landing sites and socio-ecological surveys and supplemented by secondary and proxy data where needed. Utilizing the Vortex software, the study projected the population viability of largetooth sawfish over the next 100 years under selected management scenarios, including different harvest levels and bycatch live release strategies. The analysis of the harvesting scenario indicates that, at the current harvest rate, the sawfish population is projected to become extinct within 13 years; scenario analysis also suggests that reducing harvest levels significantly enhances the population's viability and chances of survival. Furthermore, incorporating both adult and juvenile live release enhances population resilience. However, we recommend to interpret the results with caution and as indicative trends rather than precise predictions as the analysis dependent on socio-ecological data where species identification capacity can be low and secondary data where needed. These findings highlight that strategic bycatch reduction and live-release are critical for conserving the largetooth sawfish in the northern BoB. This research provides essential insights into developing effective and sustainable conservation strategies for this species under the unique challenges of a data-poor region. |
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