In 2012, UICN Shark Specialist Group recognized the need to develop Conservation Strategies and prioritized sawfishes (Pristidae) as the group most deserving urgent attention. Sawfishes were known as common in Western Africa as far as being the banknote and coins symbol of the sub-regional money (CFA). Actually listed as critically endangered (IUCN Red List) the western african sawfishes are still sporadically encountered in the area but poorly reported. Urgent action to standardize their encountered information (past and present), sensitize the local communities, evaluate the hot spots, are needed to elaborate a first evaluation of the sawfishes status in Western Africa and gather first elements to promote self-governance initiative to secure their future from their actual major threats: mitigation of human interaction and limitation of habitat degradation.
