The 12th edition of Shark News offers a panoramic view of the challenges and triumphs shaping shark, ray, and chimaera conservation today. Spanning nearly 200 pages, it showcases the breadth of scientific discovery, policy work, community action, and innovation that together define the field. This issue takes us from the Mediterranean Sea to the Mekong River, and from deepwater sharks off Namibia to newly identified nursery grounds in Brazil. Each article reflects the dedication of researchers, conservationists, and local communities whose work is steadily advancing our understanding of these species and the ecosystems they inhabit. The Editorial, by Rima Jabado, sets the tone: conservation is moving faster than ever, and the diversity of stories here is both humbling and energizing. The Q&A series introduces us to inspiring early career scientists working in the United States, the Bahamas, the Dutch Caribbean, and West Africa—each one bringing fresh ideas and approaches to shark and ray science. Recurring themes emerge. Trade is a central focus: a global assessment of manta and devil ray exploitation reveals persistent, dynamic markets for meat and gill plates; Thailand’s fin trade now includes cartilage-based pet snacks; and Indonesia—the world’s largest shark and ray fishery—is explored through a powerful photographic journey. Habitats come into sharp relief. In São Paulo, Brazil, researchers and local communities identified a new nursery area for the Whitespotted Eagle Ray. In the Black Sea, experts map out elasmobranch diversity and conservation challenges, while in the Mekong River, home to record-breaking freshwater rays, community-led solutions are urgently needed. Türkiye’s trawl data revealed a nursery for the Longnose Spurdog, and in Cabo Verde, tagging and capacity building are setting the stage for long-term conservation success. Innovation drives many of the stories: from the development of a necromone repellent that could reduce shark bycatch in tuna purse seine fisheries, to “Pilaut,” a role-playing game allowing fishers to test management scenarios. New technologies—BRUVs, eDNA, and citizen science—are informing everything from CITES listings to rediscoveries of species once thought extinct. The TSHARK platform is uniting shark movement data across the Mediterranean while engaging fishers directly in science. The growth of the Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) initiative is another milestone, with delineations now complete for the South American Atlantic and Inland Waters, and preparations underway for the 10th global workshop in Australia. With each new ISRA, we move closer to a comprehensive global map of critical habitats essential to conservation planning. Practical resources also stand out. Newly published identification guides—from gulper sharks to the chondrichthyans of Guatemala—support monitoring and CITES implementation. Updates from the IUCN Red List and features on governance, shark trade, and conservation tools in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions provide essential knowledge for policy and practice. Shark News Issue 12 is, above all, a testament to what is possible when people, data, and ideas converge. It celebrates rediscoveries, technological breakthroughs, and community-driven solutions, while confronting the ongoing challenges of trade, bycatch, and habitat loss. For scientists, conservationists, educators, and ocean enthusiasts alike, this issue is an invitation to explore the frontlines of shark and ray conservation—and to be inspired by the global efforts shaping a more sustainable future.
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