More about the Specialist Group
The IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG) was established by the Species Survival Commission in 1991 in response to growing awareness and concern about the severe impact of fisheries on shark, ray, and chimaera (hereafter ‘sharks’) populations around the world. The SSG is now recognised as the leading authority on the status of these species 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.
Guiding Principles
The SSG has long been a trusted source of science-based information and advice on sharks. This solid reputation has been built on widespread interest in the IUCN Red List as a means of identifying and prioritising species at risk, monitoring threats, and evaluating conservation action. Our work continues to centre on finding expert consensus as to the global status of species, and is guided by the following principles:
- Sharks, rays and chimaeras have ecological, economic, and cultural value;
- Policies regarding these species should be founded on sound science;
- Fishing and other forms of exploitation should be managed for sustainability;
- Minimising waste is important, particularly given declining food security;
- Communicating the outcomes of SSG initiatives to policy-makers, non-governmental organizations, and the public can lead to improvements in the population status of sharks.
