The SSG is responsible for preparing species assessments for sharks, rays and chimaeras for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The IUCN Red List is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global status of plant and animal species and is the most extensively used system for gauging the extinction risk faced by species. It uses a single set of standardised criteria, IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, to evaluate the likelihood of extinction occurring within a specified time period under past, current and future conditions. Each assessment is supported by detailed documentation, including information on distribution, population trends, habitat and ecology, life-history, threats and conservation measures. 

​The assessments and supporting documentation are independently evaluated by at least two members of the SSG (the Red List Authority for sharks, rays, and chimaeras) and summaries circulated to the entire SSG network before submission to the IUCN Red List Unit.

The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria 

The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria are used widely as an objective and authoritative system for assessing the global risk of extinction for species. They have undergone an extensive review since their first use and the currently used system, IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria version 3.1., were adopted by IUCN Council in February 2000. Under this system, information on geographic range, life-history, population trend, size and structure, threats and conservation measures, is used to evaluate each species against the IUCN Red List criteria and assign it to one of eight Red List categories.

There are three threatened categories: Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable (collectively referred to as the 'threatened' categories). Species that do not meet the threshold for a threatened category, but are close to qualifying or are likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future are placed into the Near Threatened category. Species that have been evaluated against the Red List criteria and do not qualify for either a threatened category or Near Threatened are assessed as Least Concern. A species is Data Deficient when there is inadequate information to make a direct or indirect assessment of its risk of extinction using the Red List criteria. The category Not Evaluated indicates that a species has not yet been evaluated against the criteria. See the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria for further information.

Contributing to IUCN Red List Assessments

IUCN Red List assessments are a core activity of the SSG. If you have information to assist with the assessment of a particular species please contact us. We will send you any previous assessment available for the species and put you in touch with any other SSG members that may be of assistance. The IUCN Red List uses a rigorous scientific approach in order to standardize assessments across a wide range of taxa - from slime moulds to elephants. We suggest that you familiarize yourself on how to use the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria through the formal training available through the IUCN Red List website prior to conducting your first assessment.

The SSG’s assessed the status of all sharks, rays and chimaeras through a series of regional and thematic Red List workshops. These workshops are continuously planned in order to keep up-to-date with genuine and non-genuine changes in species assessments.

Additional Reading

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Resources

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species website (http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents) provides a range of key guidance and policy documents. These provide guidance on how to prepare high-quality assessments for publication on the IUCN Red List and regional Red Lists, how to use Red List data, and more.
Online training for the application of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria is available to all members. This course consists of 7 modules and takes approximately 10 hours to complete. A certificate will be awarded upon achievement of a grade of >75% in a final exam (~2-3 hours). We encourage all SSG members to undertake this training.

Please contact info@iucnssg.com if you are interested in taking the training and we can assist with the process.