The sawfish – weird, wonderful and woefully endangered (online talk)

In our next Wildlife in the Red online talk we look at the sawfish. It’s not only one of the largest fish on earth, but also the most endangered.

Jeff Whitty, president of the Sawfish Conservation Society, will give an overview of the five species of sawfish, why they are under threat, and importantly, what we can do to help conserve the few that remain.   

Then Nicole Phillips, assistant professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, will explain how DNA from old sawfish saws in museum collections around the world is being used to help save the species.

The talk takes place on Monday 8 February, 7.30pm-8.30pm. Places are free, but you need to book in advance.

More about our speakers

Jeff Whitty is a biologist who specialises in diadromous fish (those which travel between sea and fresh water) and threatened species, with a special interest in sharks and rays. Jeff has been involved in sawfish research since 2007 and is the founder and president of the Sawfish Conservation Society.

Nicole Phillips is an assistant professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, and vice-president of the Sawfish Conservation Society. Her research uses DNA to address questions that are relevant to the conservation of threatened marine and freshwater species, and has been studying sawfish since 2005. The sawfish DNA project is funded by the Save Our Seas Foundation and the Shark Conservation Fund.