Live Roundups Editor's Desk Insights Executive Ops Weather About 🔍
Home › Environment › Endangered sawfish at risk from plan to double water...
Environment

Endangered sawfish at risk from plan to double water extraction from WA’s Fitzroy River, advocates say

The Guardian Environment Saturday 23 May 2026, 20:00 UTC By Petra Stock Climate and environment reporter 1 min read
Key Points

Conservationists are concerned that a proposed plan to double groundwater extraction from the Martuwarra Fitzroy River catchment in Western Australia could endanger threatened sawfish populations. This river system is a critical habitat, serving as the last stronghold for four of the world's five sawfish species, which depend on large groundwater-fed pools during the dry season.

The Martuwarra Fitzroy catchment is home to four of the world’s five sawfish species, which rely on large groundwater-fed pools to survive the dry season

Conservationists fear a government plan to double groundwater extraction from the Martuwarra Fitzroy River catchment in Western Australia could jeopardise threatened sawfish populations.

The untamed river, which flows 700km through the Kimberley to King Sound, is considered the last stronghold for sawfish globally and is home to four of the world’s five species.

Continue reading...
Originally published by The Guardian Environment Read original →

Related Stories

Deepest and most extensive whale graveyard discovered in Indian Ocean

Some remains found in Diamantina fracture zone date back more than 5m years and reveal species and ecosystems unknown to scienceThe oldest, deepest and most extensive whale graveyard yet discovered has been found in the south-eastern Indian Ocean, with fossils dating back more than 5m years. Whale falls – the term for dead whales that sink to the ocean floor – are not uncommon, but most have been found at depths of less than 4km (2.5 miles). By contrast, the newly discovered necropolis...

The Guardian UK 1h ago

Deepest and most extensive whale graveyard discovered in Indian Ocean

Some remains found in Diamantina fracture zone date back more than 5m years and reveal species and ecosystems unknown to scienceThe oldest, deepest and most extensive whale graveyard yet discovered has been found in the south-eastern Indian Ocean, with fossils dating back more than 5m years. Whale falls – the term for dead whales that sink to the ocean floor – are not uncommon, but most have been found at depths of less than 4km (2.5 miles). By contrast, the newly discovered necropolis...

The Guardian Environment 1h ago

[Written Question] Carbon Emissions: Consumer Goods

Question by: James McMurdock Answering Body: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of imported embodied emissions on the competitiveness of UK industry.

UK Parliament Written Questions 1h ago

[Written Question] Water: Conservation

Question by: Bob Blackman Answering Body: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to introduce mandatory water efficiency requirements for (a) data centres and (b) other large non-household users.

UK Parliament Written Questions 1h ago