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Freshwater Sawfish (Pristis pristis)

The Freshwater Sawfish is a large sawfish that uses freshwater rivers, upper estuaries and coastal waters during different life stages. On clearing and construction sites, changes to river flow, water quality, fish passage and estuarine habitat can affect this protected species, while fishing gear and handling can cause injury. It is listed as Endangered under the Commonwealth and Queensland frameworks, Vulnerable in the Northern Territory, and Migratory under the EPBC Act.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Endangered.

Northern Territory, Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976: Vulnerable.

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Listed migratory. Listed under the Bonn Convention. Listed migratory species are a matter of national environmental significance, so a significant impact needs referral.

Migration and breeding season

Freshwater Sawfish use freshwater rivers and upper estuaries as juveniles, then move between river, estuarine and marine habitats as they mature. Adults are thought to move into freshwater systems during the wet season to give birth, with pupping continuing until the start of the dry season in May. Timing varies between catchments and with wet season conditions.

Breeding mode: Live-bearing. Embryos develop inside the female and young are born live.

Litter size: 1 to 12 offspring.

Gestation: About five months.

Newborn size: About 70 to 90 cm long.

Age at maturity: About 7 to 9 years, at approximately 300 cm.

Breeding frequency: Believed to breed every other year.

Breeding sites: Freshwater systems and rivers used during the wet season. Specific maternity sites are not recorded.

Wet and dry season timing differs between northern Australian regions and years, so local rainfall, river flow and water levels should guide field timing.

  • Wet-season movement into freshwater rivers and estuaries: Adults are thought to move from marine or coastal habitats into freshwater systems during the wet season.
  • Pupping in freshwater rivers and estuaries: Pupping occurs through the wet season and continues until the beginning of the dry season in May.
  • Dependent young in freshwater nursery habitat: Young spend their first 3 to 4 years in rivers and estuaries, with juveniles using freshwater nursery habitat throughout the year.
  • Adult marine and coastal presence during the dry season: Adults may occupy marine, coastal and estuarine environments during dry months before returning to rivers in the wet season.
  • Juvenile concentration in shrinking dry-season river pools: Dry-season pool formation can concentrate juveniles and increase exposure to fishing, low water availability and construction disturbance.
  • Highest clearing risk: Avoid disturbance to large rivers, upper estuaries, wet-season movement areas and dry-season refuge pools, especially from November to June.

Identification: Appearance and size

Freshwater Sawfish is a large, flattened fish with a long saw-like snout. It can occur in muddy rivers and estuaries, so a site may be suitable even when the animal is not seen during routine inspections.

The body is flattened and olive-brown above, with a pale underside. The eyes are on top of the head and the gills are underneath the body.

The rostrum is long, narrow and edged with evenly spaced teeth. The teeth are modified scales, not true teeth. Fine sensors along the rostrum detect prey and movement.

Historic Australian records include animals up to 6.5 m long. Other records describe freshwater individuals from 76 to 250 cm and marine animals up to about 6 m.

Colour: Olive-brown or dark above, white below

Body form: Flattened, thick-bodied fish with a long toothed rostrum

Rostrum teeth: Usually 18 to 24 pairs, extending towards the base of the saw

  • Two dorsal fins are present and are almost equal in height.
  • The skin has a rough, sandpaper-like texture.
  • The first dorsal fin is in front of the pelvic fin origin.
  • The tail has a fork and a distinct lobe.

Identification: Calls and similar species

Freshwater Sawfish is not identified by calls or echolocation. Detection relies on direct observation, capture records, environmental DNA where available, and local knowledge.

Queensland also has Green Sawfish, Dwarf Sawfish and Narrow Sawfish. Identification should be confirmed by an experienced sawfish specialist, especially where more than one species may occur.

  • Freshwater Sawfish has a tapering rostrum and teeth that extend onto the base of the saw.
  • The rostrum shape differs from Green Sawfish and Narrow Sawfish.
  • Do not rely on size alone. Young sawfish can be difficult to identify in the field.

Identification: Field signs and handling

There are no reliable terrestrial signs such as droppings, nests, whitewash or odour. In-water sightings, net captures, strandings and reports from Traditional Owners, fishers and ranger groups are useful records.

If a sawfish is encountered in water or fishing gear, keep it in the water where possible. Avoid lifting it by the rostrum or tail, and release it promptly and gently in accordance with approved handling procedures.

  • Record the date, location, waterbody, estimated length and photographs where this can be done safely.
  • Report accidental captures and injuries through the relevant state fisheries or wildlife reporting pathway.
  • Stop or modify the activity if animals are at risk from pumps, barriers, nets, sediment or contaminated water.

Distribution: Australian range

In Australia, Freshwater Sawfish occurs across northern river systems and adjacent estuaries. Records are concentrated in the Northern Territory, northern Queensland and northern Western Australia, with populations increasingly rare and fragmented.

In Queensland, the species historically occurred along the east coast from the tip of Cape York to Brisbane. Current records are concentrated in far northern Queensland, including Cape York Peninsula, the Gulf of Carpentaria and rivers associated with the Great Barrier Reef region.

In the Northern Territory, records include the Adelaide, Victoria, Daly, East Alligator, South Alligator, Goomadeer, Roper, McArthur, Wearyan and Robinson rivers.

In Western Australia, the species occurs in northern drainages. It has also been recorded in rivers of Princess Charlotte Bay and other northern Australian river systems.

Mapped Australian jurisdictions: Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia

Inland records: Juveniles have been recorded up to 400 km from the sea

Site assessment: A connection to a large northern river, estuary or tidal channel increases the need for a sawfish assessment

  • Freshwater and brackish rivers
  • Upper estuaries and large coastal rivers
  • Northern Cape York Peninsula rivers
  • Gulf of Carpentaria drainages
  • North-west Australian rivers

Distribution: Overseas range

Freshwater Sawfish has a broad Indo-Pacific distribution, including the western Pacific, western Indian Ocean and eastern Pacific regions. Australian populations are part of a wider species range, but many populations are now rare or fragmented.

Distribution: Records near a project

Check state wildlife databases, fisheries records, local ranger knowledge and recent sawfish monitoring before works begin. A lack of recent records does not demonstrate that a connected river or estuary is unsuitable.

Juveniles are more likely to be recorded in freshwater drainages and upper estuaries. Larger animals are more likely in coastal and offshore waters.

  • Search upstream and downstream of the work area, not only within the project boundary.
  • Treat permanent pools, deep channels and tidal connections as potentially connected habitat.
  • Record all sightings and release animals without unnecessary handling.

Habitat: River and estuary features

Freshwater Sawfish uses freshwater, estuarine and marine habitats during its life. On a project site, focus on connected rivers, deep muddy channels, permanent pools, upper estuaries and tidal pathways.

Juveniles are usually associated with large, turbid rivers, upper estuaries and soft mud bottoms. They commonly use water deeper than 1 m, with deeper river sections beside sand or silt shallows.

Look for habitat that remains connected during the dry season. Nursery rivers may contract into pools, concentrating fish and increasing their exposure to disturbance and fishing pressure.

  • Deep river channels and bends
  • Permanent or semi-permanent dry-season pools
  • Soft mud and silt bottoms
  • Sandbars, shallow backwaters and adjacent deeper water
  • Upper estuary channels and tidal reaches
  • Unrestricted connections between freshwater and estuarine habitat

Habitat: Coastal and marine habitat

Larger animals move into coastal and offshore waters and may use water to about 25 m deep. Adults can return to rivers and inshore waters during the wet season.

A project near a river mouth, tidal creek, coastal channel or estuary should consider downstream effects, even when the construction footprint is on land.

  • River mouths and tidal channels
  • Inshore coastal waters
  • Estuarine mudflats and deeper channels
  • Freshwater to saltwater transition zones

Habitat: Site inspection points

Before clearing, excavation, bank works or waterway crossings, map the connections between the work area and the nearest large river or estuary. Include temporary channels and wet-season flow paths.

Assess whether sediment, altered flows, dewatering, culverts or barriers could reduce access to pools, upper estuaries or coastal habitat.

  • Identify pumps, sumps, cofferdams and temporary barriers that could trap fish.
  • Keep sediment and other pollutants out of connected waterways.
  • Maintain fish passage wherever practical and obtain approvals before changing a waterway.

Foraging habitat: Foraging features

Freshwater Sawfish feeds on the bottom and uses its rostrum to detect and disturb prey. Muddy channels, shallow margins, sandbars and backwaters can all contribute to foraging habitat.

The species forages in benthic habitats, including soft mud and silt. Larger fish use deeper water for movement and prey capture, while shallow areas are used for hunting and may also provide nursery habitat.

Depth use changes with age, tide and time of day. Larger fish may occupy deeper water at dawn and move into shallower water during the afternoon.

  • Deep channels with soft bottoms
  • Shallow edges beside deeper water
  • Sandbars and shallow backwaters
  • Tidal margins and estuarine flats
  • Permanent pools with fish and crustacean prey

Foraging habitat: Diet and feeding signs

Food includes fish, prawns, crabs, molluscs and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Recorded prey includes ariid catfish, cherabin and other Macrobrachium prawns.

The rostrum can stun schooling fish and uncover or extract prey from sediment. There are no dependable surface signs of feeding for use during a standard land-based inspection.

  • Avoid disturbing bottom sediments unnecessarily.
  • Prevent concrete washout, fuels, chemicals and other pollutants from entering feeding areas.
  • Manage lighting, noise and vibration near connected water where these could affect fish movement or handling operations.

Foraging habitat: Construction controls

Use screened and fish-safe pump intakes where dewatering is necessary. Inspect intake points regularly and stop pumping if fish become trapped or distressed.

Stage in-water works to maintain a connected refuge and avoid isolating fish in shallow, drying pools. Obtain specialist advice if excavation or isolation of a large river pool is proposed.

  • Use sediment controls suited to flowing water and tidal conditions.
  • Do not place spoil, spoil water or contaminated runoff where it can return to the river.
  • Plan a response for fish captured during dewatering, including specialist handling and release arrangements.

Breeding habitat: Breeding and pupping areas

Freshwater Sawfish gives birth to live young. Adults are believed to move into freshwater systems and rivers during the wet season to pup, making connected river and upper-estuary habitat particularly sensitive during this period.

Pupping occurs through the wet season until the beginning of the dry season in May. Adults may use freshwater systems, rivers and inshore waters during this period.

Specific maternity structures such as nests, caves or burrows are not associated with this species. Breeding habitat is better understood as connected river, estuarine and inshore aquatic habitat that allows adults to reach pupping areas.

Gestation: About five months

Litter size: 1 to 12 young

Newborn length: About 70 to 90 cm

Maturity: About 300 cm and approximately 7 to 9 years

  • Large freshwater rivers with wet-season access
  • Upper estuaries and connected tidal reaches
  • Deep channels and pools that remain accessible during changing flows
  • Inshore waters near river mouths

Breeding habitat: Early-life habitat

Young fish spend their first 3 to 4 years in freshwater rivers and estuaries. Some juveniles remain in rivers for 4 to 5 years before using marine environments.

Juveniles need access to suitable depth, prey and refuge as river levels change. Dry-season pools can become crowded and may be particularly vulnerable to water extraction, barriers and poor water quality.

  • Freshwater nursery reaches
  • Upper-estuary pools and channels
  • Deep water beside shallow feeding areas
  • Dry-season refuges with adequate water depth and quality

Breeding habitat: Work planning

Avoid isolating or excavating likely nursery pools during the wet season to early dry season where practicable. If timing cannot be changed, obtain site-specific advice and prepare a fish rescue and release plan before works start.

Maintain water quality and flow through breeding and nursery habitat. Do not assume that a short-term blockage is harmless because adults can move between fresh and salt water.

  • Map wet-season flow paths before site establishment.
  • Keep temporary crossings and causeways permeable to fish where feasible.
  • Use fauna spotter catchers or aquatic specialists for in-water works, dewatering and fish relocation decisions.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter features

Freshwater Sawfish does not use terrestrial nests, roosts or colonies. Shelter is provided by aquatic depth, turbid water, river pools, channel edges and areas where juveniles can avoid predators and strong flow.

Juveniles use freshwater and estuarine habitat for protection from predators during early life. Larger animals favour deeper water, while smaller fish may use warmer, shallower areas.

Look for deeper pools, channel margins, muddy bottoms and shallow backwaters beside deeper water. These features can provide refuge during changing tides and river flows.

  • Permanent dry-season pools
  • Deep bends and channel holes
  • Muddy channel margins
  • Shallow backwaters connected to deeper water
  • Estuarine channels with cover from turbidity and depth

Sheltering habitat: Seasonal refuge

Many nursery rivers fragment into pools during the dry season. Fish may have limited options to move between pools and can become concentrated, making water extraction, barriers and accidental capture more harmful.

Older juveniles and adults may use deeper river sections and then move towards estuarine or marine habitat as they grow.

  • Protect residual pools from dewatering and sediment infill.
  • Keep temporary barriers, culverts and crossings from trapping fish.
  • Maintain a clear pathway between pools, channels and downstream estuary.

Sheltering habitat: Disturbance response

Sawfish can be injured by nets, pumps and rough handling because the rostrum readily becomes entangled. A specialist should assess any animal found in a work area or trapped by equipment.

Do not place mesh, unsecured ropes or loose netting across connected waterways. Remove temporary aquatic equipment promptly when it is no longer needed.

  • Inspect pumps, screens and barriers at the start of each shift.
  • Use smooth, fish-safe containment and handling equipment.
  • Record and report any injury, mortality or accidental capture.

Migration and seasonal presence: Movement through Australia

Freshwater Sawfish is listed as Migratory under the EPBC Act. Its movements are linked to life stage, river flow, tides and the wet and dry seasons rather than to a published fixed arrival and departure calendar.

Young Freshwater Sawfish spend their first 3 to 4 years in freshwater rivers and estuaries. They later move towards coastal and offshore waters, with some juveniles remaining in rivers for 4 to 5 years.

Adults may occupy marine environments during dry months and move into freshwater systems during the wet season to pup and exploit increased prey availability. Individuals over 200 cm are known to migrate between river systems.

  • Freshwater rivers and pools during early life
  • Upper estuaries during juvenile development
  • Coastal and offshore waters for larger animals
  • Upstream and downstream movement during wet-season flows

Migration and seasonal presence: Seasonal presence

Pupping occurs through the wet season until the beginning of the dry season in May. A fixed Australian arrival month, departure month or passage period has not been established for project planning.

For field assessment, treat the wet season to early dry season as a period when adults and young may be using connected rivers and estuaries. During the dry season, juveniles may be concentrated in remaining pools and become easier to injure or isolate.

  • Do not use a single seasonal date as a clearance window.
  • Consider local rainfall, river levels, tides and the condition of dry-season pools.
  • Plan works around movement pathways, not only around the footprint.

Migration and seasonal presence: Important habitat for EPBC assessment

Important habitat includes connected large rivers, upper estuaries, wet-season freshwater reaches, permanent or semi-permanent pools, deep muddy channels, river mouths and adjacent inshore waters used for movement, feeding, pupping or nursery development.

An action that blocks fish passage, changes freshwater flow, reduces water quality, dewaters pools, damages river or estuary beds, or increases entanglement risk may affect a listed migratory species. Actions likely to have a significant impact on the species may require referral under the EPBC Act.

  • Map aquatic connections beyond the construction boundary.
  • Assess upstream and downstream effects, including sediment and altered flows.
  • Seek project-specific EPBC and state approvals advice before works in connected habitat.
  • Include Traditional Owners, aquatic ecologists and fisheries specialists in planning where appropriate.

Threats: Habitat loss and waterway modification

The main work-site risks are loss or modification of connected aquatic habitat, changes to flow and water quality, barriers to movement, and capture in equipment or fishing gear. Sawfish are protected and must not be deliberately taken, killed or retained.

Clearing riparian vegetation, excavating river beds, filling pools, changing banks and installing crossings can remove or fragment habitat. Dry-season pools and upper-estuary channels are particularly sensitive when fish have fewer movement options.

Keep work areas as narrow as practicable and retain natural channel form, depth variation and connections between pools, rivers and estuaries.

  • Avoid unnecessary bank and bed disturbance.
  • Do not fill or isolate deep pools without a specialist assessment and approved plan.
  • Restore temporary access tracks, crossings and work pads after construction.

Threats: Flow, sediment and water quality

Changes to freshwater flow and water quality can reduce prey, restrict movement and affect survival. Sediment, contaminated runoff, dewatering, spills and poorly designed diversions can harm fish directly or reduce habitat quality.

Design erosion, sediment, spill and dewatering controls for wet-season flows as well as normal conditions.

  • Maintain adequate flow through connected habitat.
  • Use clean water diversion and fish-safe dewatering methods.
  • Prevent concrete, fuel, chemicals and turbid runoff from entering waterways.
  • Monitor receiving waters during high-risk activities and stop work if controls fail.

Threats: Barriers, pumps and entanglement

Sawfish can become caught in nets, ropes, screens, pumps and other equipment because of their toothed rostrum. Trawl, gillnet and other fishing gear are significant threats, and construction equipment can create similar entanglement hazards.

Keep mesh and loose lines out of connected water. Screen pump intakes, inspect them frequently and use equipment that does not trap fish.

  • Do not use unapproved nets to exclude or capture fish.
  • Remove unused booms, ropes, mesh and temporary screens.
  • Prepare an emergency response for an animal caught in equipment.
  • Use specialist aquatic fauna personnel for rescue, handling and release.

Threats: Fishing, bycatch and direct harm

Commercial and recreational fishing of Freshwater Sawfish is banned in relevant Queensland protections, and the species is protected in its Australian range. Accidental capture can cause injury or mortality, while deliberate killing for the rostrum or fins is illegal.

Traditional fishing practices are recognised in the management context, but project activities must still comply with applicable Commonwealth, state and territory laws.

  • Brief all workers that the species is no-take and protected.
  • Stop and report any capture, injury or death.
  • Do not collect, retain, display or relocate a sawfish without approval and specialist direction.
  • Use approved release methods if an animal is accidentally caught.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Freshwater Sawfish are difficult to detect because juveniles use turbid rivers, deep channels and estuarine habitats. Surveys should be led by an aquatic ecologist with the approvals and experience needed to work with a protected sawfish.

Map all rivers, tributaries, floodplain channels, pools, estuaries and marine connections within and downstream of the project area.

Check records from government databases, Traditional Owners, fisheries agencies, ranger groups and local fishers. Give particular attention to northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Assess whether the area provides deep turbid channels, soft mud bottoms, shallow backwaters, sandbars, dry-season refuge pools or connected estuarine habitat.

Treat the species as potentially present where suitable habitat is connected to a known drainage, even if local records are sparse.

Freshwater habitat use: Juveniles commonly use freshwater drainages and upper estuaries for the first 3 to 4 years.

Adult habitat use: Larger animals use coastal, estuarine and marine waters, including water up to 25 m deep.

  • Map barriers, water extractions, altered flows, poor water quality and areas that may become isolated during the dry season.
  • Identify wet season access constraints and avoid relying on records from a single survey.

Survey methodology: 2. Field detection and survey timing

Use boat based and bank based visual searches in clear enough conditions, focusing on shallow margins, backwaters, sandbars and deeper channel edges. Sawfish may sit on the bottom of shallow muddy rivers and can be difficult to see.

Use appropriately permitted aquatic sampling methods only where a qualified specialist considers them safe and necessary. Potential methods include netting, trapping, acoustic or environmental DNA surveys, and targeted capture surveys. Do not deploy nets or other gear without the required fisheries and wildlife approvals.

Schedule repeated surveys across representative wet and dry season conditions where the project may affect connected river or estuarine habitat. Include late dry season pools, when juveniles may be concentrated and more exposed to fishing pressure.

There are no fixed arrival, departure or passage months for this species. Adults are thought to use marine environments during dry months and move into freshwater systems during the wet season to pup. Pupping continues through the wet season to the beginning of the dry season in May.

Known movement pattern: Juveniles may remain in rivers for 4 to 5 years. Individuals over 200 cm are known to move between river systems.

  • Avoid surveys during unsafe flood conditions, high flows or poor visibility unless the specialist survey design specifically requires those conditions.
  • Survey at different water levels and, where practical, across dawn, afternoon and tidal conditions because depth use varies with age and tide.
  • Stop a survey if gear or conditions create an unacceptable risk of capture, injury or habitat damage.

Survey methodology: 3. Handling, identification and records

Assume any sawfish encountered may be Freshwater Sawfish until identified by an experienced person. Use a current sawfish identification guide and record photographs only when this can be done without handling or delaying release.

Record the date, time, coordinates, waterbody, water level, tide, depth, visibility, substrate, habitat type, weather and survey method.

Record estimated length, life stage, sex if known, injuries, tags, capture method, release location and release condition. Record all other sawfish and large aquatic animals that may affect identification or risk assessment.

Report sightings, accidental captures, injuries and deaths through the relevant Queensland, Northern Territory or Western Australian reporting pathway, and notify the project environmental manager.

  • Keep a chain of custody for photographs, tissue or eDNA samples.
  • Record survey effort as search time, people, distance or area covered, gear used and any periods when conditions reduced detection.
  • Do not retain a specimen or sample unless the approval specifically allows it.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Confirm approvals and referral requirements

Avoiding Freshwater Sawfish habitat is the safest management option. Plan works around connected freshwater, estuarine and marine habitat, and obtain advice before any activity that may alter flow, water quality, river banks or aquatic habitat.

Screen the action under the EPBC Act because Freshwater Sawfish is listed as threatened and migratory. Refer the action if it is likely to have a significant impact on the species or its important habitat.

Confirm the current Commonwealth conservation listing and any applicable Queensland, Northern Territory or Western Australian listing before finalising the approvals plan.

Obtain all required state or territory fisheries, wildlife, protected area, waterway, sediment control and animal handling approvals before survey or construction begins.

In Queensland, check with the administering department whether a Species Management Program, or another protected animal authority, is required for the proposed work. The Queensland special least concern animal provision for JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA and Bonn listed birds does not apply to this fish. Do not use a bird SMP as the basis for Freshwater Sawfish work.

  • Keep approval conditions, referral decisions, permits and contact details at the site office and in the spotter catcher vehicle.
  • Use only people named or authorised under the relevant permit for capture, handling, relocation or release.
  • Obtain Traditional Owner advice and permissions where works or surveys occur on or near Indigenous land or cultural fishing areas.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoid habitat and protect water quality

Redesign works to avoid river channels, deep pools, upper estuaries, backwaters, sand or silt shallows and connected floodplain habitat.

Maintain natural flows, fish passage and wet season connectivity. Do not isolate pools, block channels, pump down refuge water or create sudden changes in water level without an approved aquatic fauna plan.

Keep sediment, hydrocarbons, concrete washout, rubbish and other contaminants out of the water. Use stable access points and prevent vehicles and machinery from entering the channel unless approved.

Treat the whole connected waterway as a potential movement pathway. A local work area may be used by juveniles, adults moving between river systems, or females moving into freshwater systems to pup.

Important habitat in Australia: Important habitat includes freshwater drainages and upper estuaries used by juveniles, nursery pools, large turbid river channels, deeper water beside sandbars and shallow backwaters, and connected estuarine or marine habitat used by adults.

  • Fence and sign aquatic exclusion areas before mobilisation.
  • Use clean equipment between waterways to reduce disease and weed transfer.
  • Provide an aquatic fauna rescue plan for any dewatering, cofferdam, bank removal or channel isolation.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance survey and timing plan

Complete a pre-clearance aquatic habitat inspection before each work front is opened. Inspect the footprint, upstream and downstream reaches, access tracks, pump intakes, temporary dams and discharge points.

Use targeted surveys where the work could trap, injure or displace fish, especially in late dry season pools, during dewatering, or where juvenile habitat is present.

Where practicable, schedule high risk aquatic works outside the wet season pupping period. If works must occur during the wet season or before the beginning of the dry season in May, obtain specialist advice and apply additional controls.

Do not describe a site as clear only because no sawfish were seen. Detection is difficult and records may be sparse.

  • Set a written stop work trigger for any sawfish, suspected sawfish, carcass, injury or unexpected aquatic habitat.
  • Confirm the release waterbody, holding equipment, specialist contacts and transport arrangements before starting.
  • Brief the crew on the sawfish profile, legal status, no take rules and safe separation from the rostrum.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Exclusion, buffers and crew induction

Set project specific aquatic exclusion areas through the environmental approval and aquatic ecologist advice. There is no universal Freshwater Sawfish clearing or construction buffer stated for this species.

Use the largest practicable setback from the active channel, deep pools, backwaters, banks and estuarine edges. Increase the setback where works may cause turbidity, vibration, noise, flow alteration or contaminated runoff.

Install exclusion fencing, turbidity controls and clearly marked no entry zones before clearing. Inspect them after floods, tides and vehicle movements.

Give all workers and subcontractors a site induction before entering the work area. Include identification, stop work authority, reporting, no handling and emergency contacts.

  • Place an aquatic spotter or qualified fauna officer at high risk work fronts.
  • Make the spotter catcher responsible for stopping work where permit conditions or the fauna management plan may be breached.
  • Keep machinery, spoil, fuels and lighting outside the exclusion area unless the approved method requires otherwise.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Use sequential clearing and aquatic controls

Work should proceed in a controlled sequence from low risk areas towards retained habitat and water. The fauna spotter catcher must have authority to stop work immediately when a Freshwater Sawfish or other protected aquatic animal is encountered.

Clear terrestrial areas first and retain all riparian vegetation and aquatic refuges required by the approved plan.

For dewatering or channel isolation, reduce water levels slowly and maintain a connected escape route wherever possible. Inspect isolated pools, pump sumps, trenches and culverts before moving water or sediment.

Use screens on pump intakes and prevent fish from entering sediment basins, trenches or discharge pipes.

Keep machinery out of water unless the method is approved and a qualified aquatic fauna specialist is present.

  • Work from downstream to upstream only where the approved aquatic method supports safe fish movement and water quality.
  • Check exclusion fencing, pump screens and containment measures at the start of each shift and after rain or tide changes.
  • Stop discharge if water is visibly contaminated, excessively turbid or outside the approved water quality conditions.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Encounter, handling and release

Stop machinery, pumps and nearby work as soon as a sawfish is seen, captured or suspected. Establish a safe exclusion area around the animal and its rostrum.

Only an authorised and experienced aquatic fauna handler may approach or handle the animal. Do not lift a large sawfish by the rostrum, tail or gill openings, and do not allow workers to crowd it.

Keep the animal in water wherever possible. If a permitted release requires temporary restraint, use the shortest practical handling time and maintain water flow over the gills.

Release the animal promptly into suitable connected habitat identified by the aquatic specialist. Do not move it to another catchment or waterbody unless the permit and specialist advice expressly allow this.

  • Do not feed, tag, retain, display or collect parts from the animal.
  • Photograph the animal only after it is safe and only where this does not delay release.
  • Follow the approved sawfish release procedure and report the capture to the relevant fisheries authority.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Active breeding place or concentrated animals

Treat freshwater systems used for pupping, nursery pools and concentrated juvenile habitat as high risk areas. The specific form of a Freshwater Sawfish breeding place is not defined by nests, colonies or roost structures.

If a female, newborns, multiple juveniles or a suspected pupping area is found, stop work and contact the aquatic ecologist, environmental manager and regulator before restarting.

Do not disturb, drain, fill, net, relocate or isolate the area until the permit holder confirms the lawful method and release plan.

If an active breeding place, colony, roost or maternity structure is found for another protected species, apply the relevant species procedure and do not assume the sawfish approval covers it.

  • Mark the location without entering the water or placing markers where they could injure fish.
  • Extend the work exclusion area if vibration, turbidity, noise or altered flow could affect the animals.
  • Document the decision, advice received, controls applied and person who authorised recommencement.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injured or dead animal pathway

Stop work and keep people and machinery clear if a sawfish is injured, entangled or dead. Do not attempt treatment or removal unless authorised.

Call the project fauna lead and the relevant state fisheries or wildlife authority. Use the emergency reporting pathway in the approval and site fauna plan.

If the animal is alive, keep it in water where safe, maintain flow over the gills and await the authorised handler. If it cannot be safely held, do not improvise a rescue.

Preserve the scene and record possible causes such as nets, pumps, vehicles, sediment, chemicals or altered flow.

  • Report all injuries and deaths, including animals found after work has stopped.
  • Do not dispose of a carcass or retain a rostrum, fin or tissue without written authority.
  • Provide photographs, coordinates, condition, estimated size, time found and actions taken to the regulator and project manager.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Complete post-clearance checks

Post work checks help identify trapped animals, water quality problems and failures in exclusion controls. Keep records that show what was searched, what was found and how any animal or incident was managed.

Inspect the entire work footprint and adjacent aquatic areas after clearing, dewatering, excavation, bank works and removal of temporary structures.

Check pump sumps, trenches, culverts, isolated pools, sediment basins, debris piles and access points for stranded or injured animals.

Repeat checks after rainfall, flooding, tidal exchange or sudden changes in flow. Keep checks in place until the aquatic specialist confirms that the site is connected and stable.

Record whether any sawfish or other aquatic fauna were found, released, injured or killed.

  • Remove temporary fish barriers only after the aquatic ecologist confirms that release and reconnection are safe.
  • Leave retained pools, shaded margins and escape routes undisturbed.
  • Check that no netting, screens, ropes or waste remain in the waterway.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Report and close out incidents

Submit sightings, captures, injuries, deaths and permit breaches within the time required by the approval or permit.

Update the project fauna register with coordinates, habitat, animal condition, handler, release location, photographs and regulator notifications.

Report accidental catches through the relevant Queensland, Northern Territory or Western Australian pathway. In Queensland, follow the current fisheries reporting instructions, including the 1800 CY TAGS pathway where it applies.

Provide a close out report for any EPBC condition, state permit condition or fauna management plan commitment.

  • Keep a separate record of near misses, such as pump intake entry, isolated pools or failed exclusion fencing.
  • Notify the regulator promptly if the event may represent a significant impact or a breach of an approval.
  • Store records so they can be linked to the work front, contractor and date.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Relocated animals and monitoring

Confirm that any relocated Freshwater Sawfish was released into suitable connected habitat under the authority of the relevant permit and handler.

Do not assume survival from release alone. Record immediate condition and any follow up required by the permit or specialist.

Monitor retained habitat where works altered banks, flow, depth, water quality or connectivity. Use repeat visual, capture, acoustic or environmental DNA methods only where the monitoring design is approved and suitable.

Review monitoring results with the aquatic ecologist and adjust controls if animals become concentrated, stranded or exposed to fishing or construction risks.

  • Use the same locations and methods where repeat monitoring is required so results can be compared.
  • Include water level, flow, turbidity, temperature where measured, connectivity, refuge pool condition and fish observations.
  • Stop or modify work if monitoring identifies unexpected sawfish use or worsening habitat conditions.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Hold a review after every capture, injury, death, escape into a work area or water quality incident.

Identify whether the cause was survey design, access, pump operation, netting, timing, induction, supervision, flow control or communication.

Update the aquatic fauna plan, induction and emergency contacts before the next work stage.

Share lessons with contractors, Traditional Owners, rangers and relevant agencies where appropriate.

  • Record corrective actions, the responsible person and completion date.
  • Do not restart a failed control without approval from the environmental manager and, where required, the regulator.
  • Retain evidence of the review for project audit and permit reporting.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore aquatic habitat and connectivity

Rehabilitation should restore connected river and estuarine habitat rather than create isolated water features. Freshwater Sawfish do not use nest boxes, bat boxes, artificial nests or roost structures, so rehabilitation should focus on water, substrate, flow, refuge and fish passage.

Remove temporary crossings, cofferdams, pumps, barriers and other structures when no longer needed, unless an approved design requires them to remain.

Reinstate natural channel shape, depth variation, shallow margins, backwaters, sand or silt shallows and deeper refuge areas where these were disturbed.

Restore fish passage between freshwater, estuarine and marine environments. Avoid abrupt drops, perched culverts, blocked floodplain channels and isolated pools.

Protect riparian banks and re-establish native vegetation to reduce erosion, shade water and limit sediment entry.

Habitat focus: Freshwater Sawfish use turbid large river channels, soft mud bottoms, deeper water, shallow backwaters, sandbars, freshwater pools and connected estuarine and marine habitat.

  • Use local reference reaches and aquatic specialist advice to guide bed and bank profiles.
  • Keep rehabilitation machinery out of the channel wherever practicable.
  • Stage works so that animals can move away before habitat is isolated or reshaped.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Restore water quality and seasonal function

Reinstate wet season flows and dry season refuge conditions as far as the project allows. Do not leave nursery rivers fragmented by avoidable earthworks or water extraction.

Stabilise disturbed soil and use sediment controls until vegetation is established and water quality is acceptable.

Prevent hydrocarbons, concrete, pesticides, fertilisers and other contaminants from entering the waterway during and after rehabilitation.

Monitor flow, depth, connectivity, turbidity and refuge pool condition through at least the relevant wet and dry season where the project has changed aquatic habitat.

  • Use clean fill and inspect imported material for contamination and weeds.
  • Design drainage so runoff is dispersed and filtered before entering the waterway.
  • Remove sediment controls only after the site is stable and the removal method will not harm aquatic fauna.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Manage weeds, pests and vegetation

Control weeds along banks, access tracks and rehabilitation areas using methods approved for use near waterways.

Replant native riparian species suited to the local drainage and protect them from grazing, vehicles and erosion.

Retain natural woody debris only where it will not block fish passage, trap animals or create a flood risk.

Avoid unnecessary clearing of bank vegetation and shallow margin habitat used by juvenile fish and their prey.

  • Inspect rehabilitation areas after floods and replace failed plants.
  • Remove weed infestations before they spread into connected wetlands or river channels.
  • Use aquatic safe herbicide practices and maintain treatment records.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long term monitoring and adaptive management

Monitor whether the restored reach remains connected, supports suitable depths and substrates, and maintains water quality through changing seasons.

Use repeat surveys by qualified aquatic ecologists and include local Traditional Owner and ranger knowledge where appropriate.

Compare results with the pre works habitat assessment and investigate any decline in sawfish observations, prey habitat, refuge pools or fish passage.

Continue monitoring until performance criteria in the approval or rehabilitation plan are met.

  • Set triggers for erosion, blocked passage, drying refuge pools, contamination, invasive weeds or unexpected animal use.
  • Repair failed banks, crossings, culverts, drainage controls or vegetation promptly.
  • Do not install nest boxes, bat boxes, artificial nest sites or roost structures for Freshwater Sawfish. Use those structures only where required for another species and where they will not affect the waterway.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Maintain a practical site legacy

Keep final maps showing retained habitat, restored habitat, exclusion areas, access points, drainage controls and monitoring locations.

Transfer ongoing waterway maintenance responsibilities to the land manager before project close out.

Retain survey, incident, release and monitoring records with the environmental management documentation.

Review the site after major floods, infrastructure maintenance or changes to water extraction so that restored habitat remains connected and safe.

  • Include sawfish risks in future maintenance inductions.
  • Keep emergency contacts current at pump stations, crossings and waterway access points.
  • Consult the relevant government agency before changing a rehabilitated reach or reopening fishing access in a managed area.

Sources