Topics include: Conservation; Elasmobranchs (sharks, rays, skates and sawfish); Fisheries
Country/Region: Global
OUR VISION A future where sharks thrive within a globally healthy marine ecosystem.
OUR MISSION Safeguarding the future of sharks through positive change. We achieve this through science, education, influence and action.
OUR STORY Established in 1997, the Shark Trust started life on the corner of a desk in Newbury. Three years later our small team had set up shop in a room designed to be an ice cream parlour based outside the newly-built National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, UK. We even had our own slushy machine!
Since then, we've grown a little in size and a lot in terms of reach and influence. Still based in Plymouth (Britain’s Ocean City), our office now accommodates a team of 11. Plymouth has a rich heritage in fisheries and marine science. From here we work at an international level to safeguard the future of sharks and their close relatives – the skates, rays and chimaera.
In 2006 we became a founding member of the Shark Alliance - a coalition of European partners. Together we advocated for the adoption of a European Community Plan of Action for Sharks (2009) and to close loopholes in the EU Finning Regulations. This led to the strengthened European Finning Ban (2013). A huge win for shark conservation.
Collaboration is at the heart of our work. We've always worked with the UK Government and an ever-growing network of partners. The UK is now internationally recognised as a champion for shark conservation. And this enables us to influence and create positive change for sharks further afield.
Shark conservation is a global issue needing global solutions. In 2016 we launched a new Global Plan for sharks and rays with a coalition of international partners. We also continue to work on a portfolio of projects and campaigns; from local to global level.
Proudly based in the UK, we represent a membership base from around the world!