Membership Policy

1. The Shark Specialist Group operates with Co-Chairs, a Deputy Chair, Vice Chair Specialists, and Area Co-ordinators, who make up part of the "Executive Committee". Regional Vice-Chairs are in place for each of the twelve SSG regions.

2. In accordance with IUCN statutes, the Co-Chairs are appointed by the Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. Membership in the SSG is by invitation of the Co-Chairs for the period of the current Quadriennium only.

3. The membership policy for the Shark Specialist Group is focused on having an active, widely skilled, and globally representative group of members fully supportive of the mission and activities of the SSG.

4. The SSG invites members on the basis of:
a. relevant and direct expertise in chondrichthyan conservation, research, management, or education;
b. expertise in other fields that would be supportive of the SSG's mission and objectives;
c. the need for the membership to be representative. Because of the global distribution of chondrichthyans, efforts will continue to be made to provide worldwide representation in the SSG. Membership will remain flexible, and new members are added as they are recognized from as broad a geographic range as possible;
d. inactive members or those that no longer support the SSG's mission and objectives will not be reappointed.

5. The SSG's internal operations will be flexible, allowing for the convening of regular and ad hoc national, regional or international consultations, to appoint new members, or to address specific conservation issues or techniques.

6. The SSG aims to meet at least once a year. Because of the global nature of its membership, regional meetings are encouraged to facilitate maximum participation.

7. SSG meetings are routinely open to non-members. Decisions to close meetings will be made by the members of the Executive Committee present, or through prior communication among Executive Committee members.

Terms of Reference

Mission: To promote the long-term conservation of the world's chondrichthyan fishes (sharks, skates, rays and chimaeras), effective management of their fisheries and habitats and, where necessary, recovery of populations.

 

Objectives:

1. To promote, catalyze, and document conservation activities on behalf of chondrichthyans.
2. To undertake research, conservation, management, and education activities in fulfillment of our mission.
3. To provide and improve technical information and advice on the conservation of chondrichthyans to the following constituents:
   1. government management agencies;
   2. non-governmental conservation organizations (both international and national);
   3. intergovernmental research, management, and conservation authorities;
   4. the fishing sector and other user groups; and
   5. other organizations or as appropriate.
      Special effort will be made to deliver products that meet the needs of these various constituents.

Roles and Activities:

1. Technical
   1. Undertake analyses of available data to evaluate and review the status and trends of chondrichthyan populations, undertake IUCN Red List Assessments, and publish regional Status Reports.
   2. Assess the negative impacts of fishing and other human activities on these populations.
2. Advisory
   1. Identify research, management, and conservation priorities for chondrichthyans and their fisheries and habitats, and disseminate these in regularly updated publications and through the website.
   2. Assess options for conservation and management action through interaction with governments and other policy makers thereby providing technical support for the development and implementation of effective conservation strategies, including FAO and RFO initiatives and CITES and CMS listing proposals.
   3. Facilitate coordination and cooperation in conservation-related research and management on these species to ensure that information can be disseminated and applied as widely as possible.
3. Advocacy and Action
   1. Promote and carry out conservation actions, including those identified in SSG publications.
   2. Promote awareness about the conservation needs of chondrichthyan fishes to the constituents listed above, as well as the media, funding institutions, scientific and educational communities, and the public at large.
   3. Publish a newsletter, Shark News, to serve as the primary communication tool on current research and conservation activities among Shark Group members, and to provide up-to-date information on Shark Specialist Group activities and chondrichthyan conservation issues to all interested parties.
   4. To maximize communication, use the internet and other media to disseminate Shark Specialist Group publications and conservation priorities.
   5. Work as closely as possible with other components of IUCN, particularly Specialist Groups and the Marine Programme, to promote all aspects of fish conservation.
   6. Promote the increased allocation of resources for chondrichthyan research, conservation and management.