Our Members
The IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG) is one of the largest specialist groups within the IUCN Species Survival Commission, with 237 members from 83 countries and territories.
All Specialist Groups are established for four-year terms. At the end of each term, memberships are dissolved, and the Chair, Regional Vice-Chairs (RVCs), and members must be re-appointed (usually following the IUCN World Conservation Congress). The IUCN Species Survival Commission appoints the Chair, while RVCs can be appointed at the Chair's discretion. Members can be re-appointed for subsequent terms but only if they have significantly contributed and been actively engaged in activities on behalf of the SSG. The membership is evaluated in close coordination with the RVCs, who lead, manage, and represent their regional memberships.
New members are appointed by invitation only every four years. They are typically nominated by existing members and RVCs but can also be recommended by non-members. The Chair evaluates these nominations in close consultation with the RVCs before an official invitation is sent, including the Membership Policy and Terms of Reference and Code of Conduct of the Members of IUCN Commissions.
Members of the SSG are volunteer experts from a broad range of expertise and experience, but all are actively involved in shark, ray, and chimaera research, policy, or conservation. While all nominations will be considered, because of the voluntary nature of the network, not all can be accepted to ensure we keep the membership size at a manageable and effective level. The membership period is currently closed.
Volunteer opportunities are sometimes available within the SSG. Anyone interested in contributing to the work of the SSG should contact us with an expression of interest (no more than 300 words) indicating their field of expertise and what skills they think they could contribute to our work. Please note that our volunteering opportunities do not include fieldwork with sharks, rays, and chimaeras. If volunteers are interested in a specific project led by an SSG member, we recommend they contact them directly.
All Specialist Groups are established for four-year terms. At the end of each term, memberships are dissolved, and the Chair, Regional Vice-Chairs (RVCs), and members must be re-appointed (usually following the IUCN World Conservation Congress). The IUCN Species Survival Commission appoints the Chair, while RVCs can be appointed at the Chair's discretion. Members can be re-appointed for subsequent terms but only if they have significantly contributed and been actively engaged in activities on behalf of the SSG. The membership is evaluated in close coordination with the RVCs, who lead, manage, and represent their regional memberships.
New members are appointed by invitation only every four years. They are typically nominated by existing members and RVCs but can also be recommended by non-members. The Chair evaluates these nominations in close consultation with the RVCs before an official invitation is sent, including the Membership Policy and Terms of Reference and Code of Conduct of the Members of IUCN Commissions.
Members of the SSG are volunteer experts from a broad range of expertise and experience, but all are actively involved in shark, ray, and chimaera research, policy, or conservation. While all nominations will be considered, because of the voluntary nature of the network, not all can be accepted to ensure we keep the membership size at a manageable and effective level. The membership period is currently closed.
Volunteer opportunities are sometimes available within the SSG. Anyone interested in contributing to the work of the SSG should contact us with an expression of interest (no more than 300 words) indicating their field of expertise and what skills they think they could contribute to our work. Please note that our volunteering opportunities do not include fieldwork with sharks, rays, and chimaeras. If volunteers are interested in a specific project led by an SSG member, we recommend they contact them directly.
