Sharks and their relatives, the rays and chimaeras, are collectively termed chondrichthyan fishes (class Chondrichthyes). Rays are known as batoids (superorder Batoidea) and the batoids and sharks (superorder Selachimorpha) together comprise the elasmobranchs (subclass Elasmobranchii).
Chondrichthyans are a relatively small - ~1,200+ described species - evolutionarily conservative group that has functioned successfully in diverse marine and aquatic ecosystems for over 400 million years. Despite their evolutionary success, many species are increasingly threatened with overexploitation as a result of their life history traits and human activities (especially fishing).
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world’s largest global environmental network composed of both government and civil society organizations. It is a membership union with more than 1,400 member organizations and over 17,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries. This diversity and vast expertise makes IUCN the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.
The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is a science-based network of over 9,000 experts from almost every country of the world, all working towards achieving the vision of: ‘A just world that values and conserves nature through positive action to reduce the loss of diversity of life on earth’. The work of the SSC revolves around a cycle that comprises assessing the status of biodiversity, planning for conservation, and catalyzing conservation actions.
The IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG) was established by the SSC in 1991 in response to growing awareness and concern of the severe impact of fisheries on shark, ray, and chimaera populations around the world. The SSG is now recognized as the leading authority on the status of sharks, rays, and chimaeras and has recently finished assessing the status of all known species. Central to this process has been the knowledge and expertise shared by its members. The SSG is now moving forward to ensure that this knowledge converts into plans and interventions that lead into conservation action for priority species groups.
Chondrichthyans are a relatively small - ~1,200+ described species - evolutionarily conservative group that has functioned successfully in diverse marine and aquatic ecosystems for over 400 million years. Despite their evolutionary success, many species are increasingly threatened with overexploitation as a result of their life history traits and human activities (especially fishing).
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world’s largest global environmental network composed of both government and civil society organizations. It is a membership union with more than 1,400 member organizations and over 17,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries. This diversity and vast expertise makes IUCN the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.
The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is a science-based network of over 9,000 experts from almost every country of the world, all working towards achieving the vision of: ‘A just world that values and conserves nature through positive action to reduce the loss of diversity of life on earth’. The work of the SSC revolves around a cycle that comprises assessing the status of biodiversity, planning for conservation, and catalyzing conservation actions.
The IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG) was established by the SSC in 1991 in response to growing awareness and concern of the severe impact of fisheries on shark, ray, and chimaera populations around the world. The SSG is now recognized as the leading authority on the status of sharks, rays, and chimaeras and has recently finished assessing the status of all known species. Central to this process has been the knowledge and expertise shared by its members. The SSG is now moving forward to ensure that this knowledge converts into plans and interventions that lead into conservation action for priority species groups.
Shark Specialist Group
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Our Vision
A world where sharks, rays, and chimaeras are valued and managed sustainably.
Our Mission
To secure the conservation, management and, where necessary, the recovery of the world’s sharks, rays, and chimaeras by mobilizing technical and scientific expertise to provide the knowledge that enables action.