Monitoring the recovery of smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata, using standardized relative indices of abundance

The US population of smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata, is currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. An important component of monitoring the recovery of this species is establishing long-term baseline trends in abundance. In the absence of scientific survey data, assessing and monitoring the status of some marine species has required the utilization of fishery-dependent data. Using voluntary dockside interviews of sport fishers collected in Everglades National Park, a standardized index of abundance was created for smalltooth sawfish using the delta method. The index was developed as the product of separate generalized linear models of the proportion of positive trips and the positive catch rates on successful trips. Development of the final model included testing factors that were expected to influence the catch of smalltooth sawfish. The final model assumed a binomial distribution for the proportion of positive trips and a lognormal distribution for positive catch rates. Year was significant as a main effect in the binomial model whereas year and skill level of the fishing party were significant in the lognormal model. The relative abundance index shows a small increase in abundance at an average rate of about 5% per year since 1989. These results indicate that the population of smalltooth sawfish in Everglades National Park has at least stabilized and may be increasing. However, additional data and analyses from multiple sources are required before definitive conclusions on the recovery of smalltooth sawfish can be established.