The underside of a sawfish/ Adobe Stock

The sawfish was trapped. Heavy lines from a lobster cage wrapped around its long, flat body, harnessing the unfortunate creature to the sandy bottom of Biscayne National Park in south Florida.

Sawfish appear like mythical creatures beneath the water's surface, their long snouts studded with sharp, teeth-like triangles, raised fins giving them a shark-like silhouette (though they are more closely related to rays). During the 19th century, sawfish remained common in Florida, but their populations declined as commercial and recreational fishing increased. Today, the smalltooth sawfish is endangered and protected under the Endangered Species Act. In fact, this particular species of sawfish was the first marine fish to receive such protections back in 2003. 

If left alone, the sawfish would have eventually died, unable to feed. Luckily for this 7-8 foot individual, park visitors called rangers, and they arrived on the scene to rescue the aquatic creature. As the National Oceanic and Atmosphric Administration reports, "The rangers remained at a safe distance, cut the line and the sawfish was able to swim away."

A trapped sawfish is rescued in Biscayne Bay/ NOAA.

The NOAA agency release continues: "The National Park Service is NOAA's partner in smalltooth sawfish conservation and serve as an appointed member of the Smalltooth Sawfish Recovery Implementation Team. NOAA Fisheries applauds the park rangers for freeing the entangled sawfish while keeping the animal in the water, minimizing any handling, and maintaining a safe distance."

Sawfish in the United States "live in tropical seas and estuaries (semi-enclosed areas where rivers meet the sea) of the Atlantic Ocean. They are most at home in shallow, coastal waters, and sometimes enter the lower reaches of freshwater river systems." 

Across Florida, visitors and locals alike are encouraged to "Respect," "Release," and "Report" sawfish sightings to 1-844-4SAWFISH. The more information researchers collect on the sawfish populations, the better they can conserve this unique species.