[11] It can live in colder waters than its relatives, as also evidenced by the range in Australia where it occurs further south than the other species of sawfish.

[4][13] The longcomb sawfish is mainly found in coastal marine, mangrove and estuarine habitats, even in very shallow waters, but can also occur far offshore to a depth of more than 70 m (230 ft).

[14] It receives a level of protection in Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Qatar, South Africa (where already extirpated) and the United Arab Emirates,[11] but enforcement of fishing regulations are often lacking.

[13] The longcomb sawfish faces significant threats attributed to intense and poorly managed fishing pressure throughout its range.

[1] The longcomb sawfish encounters high fishing pressure, resulting in poorly regulated and unmanaged exploitation.

Bycatch in both commercial and small-scale fisheries, driven by escalating demand for fins and meat, poses a considerable threat.

In some regions, measures such as the release of sawfishes by fishers may still lead to significant at-vessel and post-capture mortality, further impacting population viability.

Additionally, potential impacts on adult longcomb sawfish associated with offshore oil and gas extraction, including activities like seismic surveys, further compound habitat threats in various regions.

[1] Historically, the northwest region of Australia provided relatively undisturbed coastal habitats for the longcomb sawfish.

Presently, various factors pose substantial threats to the species in Western Australia, including coastal developments such as mining, natural resource operations, and oil and gas extraction.