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Adapted from article on www.news.bbc.co.uk,    June 11 2007

	There was little opposition among delegates to the proposal to list the sawfish family (Pristidae) on Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has banned international trade in one of the world's most remarkable fish - the sawfish.

The spectacular rostra, or snouts, can fetch prices of more than $1,000 (£500), and all species of the fish are critically endangered.

The rostra are traded internationally for curios, and fins for use in shark fin soup. Rostra and fins are also used in traditional medicine, and individual teeth make spurs for cock-fighting in Latin America.

Globally, all seven species are thought to be at less than 10% of their historical levels. "Sawfish have disappeared from waters stretching from the east coast of the US to southeast Asia," according to Sue Lieberman of the World Wildlife Fund.

The only permitted trade will involve live fish, collected in sustainable numbers, for export to aquaria. This clause was pushed for by Australia. However, Carroll Muffett of Greenpeace said: "Australia is putting the very survival of these magnificent animals at risk to protect an industry worth less than £100,000".

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