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Two species of sawfish (Pristidae) formerly inhabited the eastern Atlantic: the smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) and the largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis). Both are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.Limited information is available on the historical occurrence of sawfishes in the Gulf of Guinea, or on current landings of sawfishes and other Rhinopristiformes.A rapid interview study was conducted in 2018 to assess the current status of sawfishes and to collect basic information on fisheries for guitarfishes in Ghanaian waters.Of 28 interviewees, only five recalled seeing a sawfish during their lifetime.At least two species of guitarfishes – blackchin guitarfish (Glaucostegus cemiculus) and common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) – were caught by fishermen and were primarily landed between November and February. Opportunistic photographs of landings suggested that G. cemiculus was the most commonly caught guitarfish species.Interviewees reported catching between two and 60 individuals per week during the peak guitarfish season. Guitarfish meat is sold and consumed locally; fishermen could sell guitarfish fins for up to US$55 per kg.The findings suggest that sawfishes are locally extinct in Ghana and that management of the guitarfish fishery is urgently required to ensure those species do not meet the same fate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which identifies the effectivity of pingers developed by the Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and other acoustic deterrents on the behaviour of common dolphins in Northern Hemisphere. At-sea trials show that two acoustic deterrent devices failed to raise any similar behaviour in common dolphins. Another signal output device shows no significant effects on their behaviour. However, two commercially available acoustic deterrents produce an occasional mild protective response. These results reflect that pingers may not offer effective deterrent signal for common dolphins.