IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group
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      • Aquarium Working Group
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      • 2024 Global Status Report
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      • SSG Statements
      • Identification Guide
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    • Conservation Strategies >
      • Conservation Strategies: Sawfish
      • Conservation Strategies: Devil and Manta Rays
      • Conservation Strategies: Angel Sharks
    • Policy Planning >
      • CITES >
        • CITES 17th CoP
      • The Convention on Migratory Species and Sharks
      • The Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks (Sharks MOU)
      • The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Sharks
      • RFMOs
      • IPOA-Sharks
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      • Angel Shark Images and Captions for Media Use
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Our History

Our History

The below timeline provides an overview of the SSG history from when it was founded in 1991 by Dr Samuel Gruber (also known as 'Doc' or 'Sonny') with the support from Deputy Chair Sarah Fowler, to the present day.
 
IUCN SSC Specialist Groups disband and reform every three to four years, following the World Conservation Congress. IUCN's current quadrennium runs from 2021-2024.

1991 – 1993 (triennium)

Chair & Founder
  • Samuel H. Gruber | Bimini Biological Field Station | University of Miami | USA

Deputy Chair
  • Sarah Fowler | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom

1994 – 1996 (triennium)

Chair (1994 – 1995)
  • Samuel H. Gruber | Bimini Biological Field Station | University of Miami | USA
Acting Chair (1995 – 1996)
  • Sarah Fowler | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom​​

Deputy Chair | Eurasia & Africa
  • Sarah Fowler | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom
Deputy Chairs | Americas & Oceania
  • Carl Safina | National Audubon Society | USA
  • Merry Camhi | National Audubon Society | USA

1997 – 2000 (quadrennium)

Chair
  • Sarah Fowler | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom​​
  • Jack Musick | Virgina Institute of Marine Sciences | USA​​

Deputy Chair
  • Merry Camhi | National Audubon Society | USA

2001 – 2004 (quadrennium)

Chair
  • Sarah Fowler | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom​​
  • Jack Musick | Virgina Institute of Marine Sciences | USA​​​

Deputy Chair
  • Merry Camhi | National Audubon Society | USA

​Program Officer
  • Rachel Cavanagh | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom​

2005 – 2008 (quadrennium)

Chairs
  • Sarah Fowler | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom​
  • Jack Musick | Virgina Institute of Marine Sciences | USA​​​ (2005)
  • Andres Domingo Balestra | Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos | Uruguay (2006–2008)​

Deputy Chair
  • Sonja Fordham | Shark Advocates International | USA

​​Vice Chairs
  • Science : Jack Musick | Virgina Institute of Marine Sciences | USA​​​
  • Communications : George Burgess | Florida Museum of Natural History | University of Florida | USA​​​
  • Trade : Shelley Clarke | Sasama Consulting | Japan​
  • Traffic : Glenn Sant | TRAFFIC | Australia

​Program Officer
  • Rachel Cavanagh | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom​

2009 – 2012 (quadrennium)

Chair
  • ​​Nick Dulvy | Simon Fraser University | Canada
  • Andres Domingo Balestra | Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos | Uruguay​​

Deputy Chair
  • Sonja Fordham | Shark Advocates International | USA

Vice Chairs
  • International Treaties : Sarah Fowler | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom​​​​
​
​Program Officer
  • Lucy Harrison | Canada

2013 – 2016 (quadrennium)

Chair
  • ​​Nick Dulvy | Simon Fraser University | Canada
  • Colin Simpfendorfer | James Cook University | Australia​

Deputy Chair
  • Sonja Fordham | Shark Advocates International | USA

Program Officer
  • Rachel Walls | Simon Fraser University | Canada (2013 – 2015)
  • Julia M. Lawson | Canada (2015 – 2016)​​

Red List Authority Coordinator
  • ​Peter Kyne | Charles Darwin University | Australia​
  • Rachel Walls | Simon Fraser University | Canada (2013 – 2015)​

2017 – 2020 (quadrennium)

Chair
  • Nick Dulvy | Simon Fraser University | Canada
  • Colin Simpfendorfer | James Cook University | Australia

Deputy Chair
  • Sonja Fordham | Shark Advocates International | USA

Red List Authority Coordinator
  • Peter Kyne | Charles Darwin University | Australia
  • Cassandra Rigby | James Cook University | Australia
  • Riley Pollom | Simon Fraser University | Canada

Working Groups Chair
  • Trade : Shelley Clarke | Sasama Consulting | Japan
  • Traffic : Glenn Sant | TRAFFIC | Australia Vice-Chair
  • Taxonomy : David Ebert | Pacific Shark Research Center | USA
  • Strategy : Michelle Heupel | Australian Institute of Marine Research | Australia

Regional Groups and Regional Vice-Chairs
  • Northeast Atlantic: Edward Farrell (Ireland) & Heike Zidowitz (Germany)
  • Northwest Atlantic: Dave Kulka (Canada) & John Carlson (USA)
  • Northeast Pacific: David Ebert (USA) & Chris Lowe (USA)
  • Northwest Pacific: Alexei Orlov (Russia) & Atsuko Yamaguchi (Japan)
  • Southeast Asia: Fahmi (Indonesia) & Ahmad Bin Ali (Malaysia)
  • Indian Ocean: Rima Jabado (UAE) & Alec Moore (UK)
  • Sub-equatorial Africa: Simon Pierce (Mozambique) & Melita Samoilys (Kenya)
  • West Africa: Mika Diop (Senegal)
  • Central America and the Caribbean: Mario Espinoza (Costa Rica) & Oscar Sosa-Nishizaki (Mexico)
  • Western South America: Carlos Bustamante (Chile)
  • Eastern South America: Patricia Charvet (Brazil) & Vicente Faria (Brazil)
​
Program Officer
​​
  • Riley Pollom | Simon Fraser University | Canada

2021 – 2025 (quadrennium)

Chair
  • ​​Rima Jabado (United Arab Emirates​​​)

Red List Authority Coordinator
  • ​Cassandra Rigby (Australia)
  • Brittany Finucci (New Zealand) (2023)

Working Groups Chairs
  • Deep Sea Chondrichthyan: Brittany Finucci (New Zealand)
  • Bycatch : Dave W. Kulka (Canada) & Gustavo Chiaramonte​ (Argentina)
  • Integrative Taxonomy : Simon Weigmann (Germany)
  • Human Dimensions : Divya Karnad (India)
  • Aquarium : Lisa A. Hoopes (USA) & Paula Carlson (USA)
  • Assess : Cassandra Rigby (Australia)
  • Communication : Michael Scholl (Switzerland)
  • Marine Historical Ecology: Manuel Dureuil (Germany) & Heike Zidowitz (Germany)

Regional Groups and Regional Vice-Chairs
  • North America: John Carlson (USA) & Chelsey Young (USA)
  • Central America and the Caribbean: Mario Espinoza (Costa Rica) & Oscar Sosa-Nishizaki (Mexico)
  • South America: Patricia Charvet-Almeida (Brazil), Vicente Faria (Brazil) & Carlos Bustamante (Chile)
  • Northern Europe: Heike Zidowitz (Germany) & Sophy R. McCully Phillips (United Kingdom)
  • Mediterranean: Fabrizio Serena (Italy) & Alen Soldo (Croatia)
  • Africa: Melita Samoilys (Kenya) & Mika S. Diop (Senegal)
  • Indian Ocean: Daniel Fernando (Sri Lanka) & Elisabeth Fahrni Mansur (Bangladesh)
  • Asia: Fahmi (Indonesia) & Jie Zhang (China)
  • Oceania:​ Christine Dudgeon (Australia) & Alastair Harry (Australia)

Program Officer
  • Alexandra Z.A. Morata (United Arab Emirates)

Our team
Our Members

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Copyright © 2025 | IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group | All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
    • Sponsors
    • Communication >
      • Visual Identity and Brand Guide
    • Documents
    • Membership | TOR
    • FAQ
  • Members
    • Who We Are >
      • Our Team
      • Our Members
      • Our History
    • Where We Work >
      • North America
      • Central America and the Caribbean
      • South America
      • Northern Europe
      • Mediterranean
      • Africa
      • Indian Ocean
      • ​Asia
      • Oceania
    • What We Do >
      • Aquarium Working Group
      • Assess Working Group
      • Bycatch Working Group
      • Communication Working Group
      • Deepwater Chondrichthyans Working Group
      • Human Dimensions Working Group
      • Integrative Taxonomy Working Group
      • Marine Historical Ecology Working Group
  • Resources
    • Shark News >
      • Shark News | Submission Guidelines
    • Shark News Legacy
    • Important Shark and Ray Areas
    • Publications >
      • 2024 Global Status Report
      • Status Reports
      • Fisheries Management
      • Conservation Strategies
      • Migratory Species
      • SSG Statements
      • Identification Guide
      • Trade
      • Other
    • Scientific References
    • Conservation Strategies >
      • Conservation Strategies: Sawfish
      • Conservation Strategies: Devil and Manta Rays
      • Conservation Strategies: Angel Sharks
    • Policy Planning >
      • CITES >
        • CITES 17th CoP
      • The Convention on Migratory Species and Sharks
      • The Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks (Sharks MOU)
      • The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Sharks
      • RFMOs
      • IPOA-Sharks
    • Workshops >
      • IUCN SSC SSG Workshops
      • Red List News
    • Press
    • Links
    • Media Resources >
      • Angel Shark Images and Captions for Media Use
      • Wedgefish & Guitarfish Images for Media Use
      • Sawfish Images for Media Use
  • News
  • Contact
  • Donate