The Forgotten International Trade of Sawfish Rostral Teeth in Latin America

ABSTRACT All sawfish species are critically endangered with overfishing and retention of highly valued fins, meat, rostra, and rostral teeth as the main threats. The illegal international trade in rostral teeth for use as cockfighting spurs remains poorly known and continues in South America, despite prohibitions of animal origin spurs by most cockfighting associations. Interviews with cockfighting association leaders from four Latin American countries and with Peruvian cockfighting practitioners (galleros) between 2016 and 2022 indicated that spur prices have varied over time and location, ranging from US25 to 400 per pair, making them among the most valued wildlife trade products (per gram) in the world. Interviewees identified Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia as source countries for rostral teeth used in cockfighting. We recommend CITES engage in detection and enforcement strategies to curb this hidden illegal sawfish commercialization in the most valuable wildlife trade of the most threatened marine fish family.