The Hague: A joint Kenya-US proposal for the protection of six highly prized but endangered sawfish species has been approved.

Delegates at the world’s wildlife oversight organisation resolved to place stringent commercial trade restrictions on six of the seven sawfish species.

One species, mostly found in southern Africa, India and South East Asia, was placed on the less appendix II following a request for an amendment by Australia to allow trade in live specimens for aquarium.

The decision is expected to be formally accepted by the full conference before it ends on June 15.

Sawfish are highly valued for their fins, unique toothed rostra (snouts), and as live animals for exhibition. Their meat is of less value.

Their distinctive saw-like snouts are sold as souvenirs, curios, and ceremonial weapons, while other body parts such as skin, liver oil and bile are used in traditional medicines. Their fins are among the most sought for fin soup especially in Asia.

Ms Dorothy Nyingi, who presented Kenya’s proposal, said local fishermen no longer get enough of the sawfish to make a decent living and “fishermen could retire after catching one sawfish due to the high value of sawfish fins (US$ 243.00 per kilogram for export) and rostra (up to US$1450). There is thus no incentive to release sawfish caught in any fishing gear.”

Kenya last month conducted a survey to determine the status of sawfish involving fisheries officers, fisheries assistants, fish traders and local fishermen at major landing sites.

All sources of information reported a decrease in sawfish over a 40-year period. Out of the seven sawfish species found globally, three Anoxypristis cuspidate, Pristis zijsron and Pristis pectinata are found at the Kenya coast.

Globally, the sawfish species has declined by as much as 90 per cent, according to Greenpeace International.

For those fishermen reporting catches of sawfish, only the meat is retained for local consumption. Rostral saws and fins are exported to Japan, Korea, Spain, and Italy.

Sawfish is a slow moving, non aggressive shark. They reach maturity at 10 years and can live for 30 years. All the species are critically endangered and have very low reproductive rate of seven pups every two years and a long gestation period of five months. Bycatch is usually retained for trade in parts and derivatives like rosta and fins.

All the species of sawfish are listed as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union, mainly because of overfishing and loss of habitats.

Sawfish are among those species of marine fishes with the lowest productivities making them extremely vulnerable to exploitation.

Mr Julius Kipng’etich, the Kenya Wildlife Service director, said the CITES decision gave the special fish that had been depleted and risked extinction a chance to recover. Besides, he added, it to enable future fisheries to benefit from the recovered populations of the sawfish. “It is also a first step in the protection of other sharks at the coastal waters,” Mr Kipng’etich said.