Papua New Guinea: A Potential Refuge for Threatened Indo–Pacific River Sharks and Sawfishes

The conservation of threatened elasmobranchs in tropical regions is challenging due to high local reliance on aquatic and marine resources. Due primarily fishing pressure, river sharks ( Glyphis ) sawfishes (Pristidae) have experienced large population declines the Indo-Pacific. Papua New Guinea (PNG) may offer a refuge for these species, as human density low, shark sawfish populations are thought persist. However, few data available species PNG, risk posed by small-scale fishers poorly understood. This study observed elasmobranch catches fisheries riverine coastal environments East Sepik (northern region), Gulf, Western Provinces (southern region) PNG. Surveys were conducted over period weeks months each region, during dry season across seven field trips from 2017 2020. We total 783 encompassing 38 10 families. River made up 29.4% observations southern while 14.8 20.3% northern regions, respectively. commonly caught lower generally less common mainly through dried rostra. primary threat their capture targeting teleosts swim bladder. Persisting indicate that PNG second known nation with viable multiple declining or at decline, management required realize potential long-term refuge.