Sawsharks, belonging to the family Pristiophoridae, are distinctive deep-sea sharks characterized by their long, flattened snouts edged with sharp teeth, resembling a saw. Unlike sawfish, sawsharks are true sharks and are generally smaller, inhabiting continental slopes and shelves in temperate and tropical waters. The "Top Sawsharks Not Elsewhere Included" category refers to countries with significant but less globally recognized sawshark fisheries, often reported under miscellaneous or aggregated data. Key fishing nations include Japan and Australia, where sawsharks are caught as bycatch in trawl and gillnet fisheries, primarily for their meat and occasionally for their fins. In these countries, sawshark landings are relatively small compared to major commercial species, but they are locally important, especially in Japanese markets where their flesh is used in various dishes. Other countries, such as New Zealand and Portugal, also report minor catches, reflecting the species' broad but patchy distribution and the generally low volume, niche nature of the sawshark fishery worldwide.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 199 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.