A statement issued by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI-Kochi) said the sawfish may be the most endangered fish species in India.
The first sawfish day was observed on October 17 across worldwide.
Marine scientists have reported that sawfish appears to be more threatened than tigers and elephants.
Sawfish is included in the Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
Skeleton of sawfish is made of cartilage, instead of bone. Thus they belong to Elasmobranchs.
They are closely related to sharks and have shark-shaped bodies and, hence, are also called flat sharks.
There are only five species of the sawfish ever identified — dwarf sawfish, knife tooth sawfish, small tooth sawfish, large tooth sawfish and green sawfish.