Respect. protect. take action.
Sharks play a key role in the natural, social, and economic systems of our planet. Climate change, food security, sustainable fisheries, biodiversity, and sustainable economies depend on functioning ocean ecosystems. A healthy ocean needs abundant and healthy shark populations. During the past decades, sharks have been decimated on a global scale, and there seems to be no end in sight. Devastating fishing practices continue, and decision-makers seem unwilling to take significant steps to change this trajectory. This is due to a lack of awareness and strong influences we have not been able to match. We have made progress in recent years, but to avoid stagnation, we must ramp up our efforts. It has come to the point where we must ask ourselves:
How do we create a future WITH sharks?
Interconnected strategies
It’s a tough choice to do what is necessary, rather than what is easy. If we want to push shark advocacy out of its underdog status, we have to be willing to consider the complexity of all the elements that could move us forward. Putting up with the status quo is no longer an option if we want to elevate shark advocacy to a more powerful position. Winning battles here and there is great, but changing the game would be even better. With each sector mentioned below, we have opportunities to break barriers.
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Represent Sharks
To raise the profile of urgent issues and fight for effective solutions.
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Determine the Value of Sharks
To prove that the protection of sharks is good for business and for society.
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Change how we govern sharks
Propose fundamental changes in how sharks are governed.
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Protect Sharks' Habitat
Increase protected areas where shark populations have a chance to recover.
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Build New Momentum
Activate new stakeholders, and build public support for shark conservation
CURRENT CAMPAIGNS
Calculate the economic impact of SHARKS
Financial valuations demonstrate the economic power of live sharks, in contrast to the one-time gain of fishing.
End the decimation of White Sharks in South Africa
For years, we have been hearing about shark nets and drumlines that are being used along South Africa’s coastline, wreaking havoc on wildlife. The government has increased the number of long-line tuna permits with an allowable bycatch of sharks. The decimation of White sharks is alarming - meanwhile, the public is told that orcas are to blame. We are joining South African advocacy groups to take action and change this tragic trajectory.
stop fins eu
It’s time for the European Union to take its member states out of the Fin Trade. Together with a coalition of European Shark and Ocean conservation Groups, we are moving a proposal through the slow quagmire of the European Union’s legislative process.
Shark Allies joins a coalition of groups to advocate for sharks in Brussels, to advance a proposal to ban the trade of shark fins in the EU.
our next event
Important new Shark Meat report:
This new study presents the results of sample testing of shark meat across European markets. It was published in October 2025 by the organizations ElasmOcean, Gallifrey Foundation (Switzerland), and Stop Finning Germany.
It sends a clear message - "Shark meat is heavily polluted and should not be consumed”.
Toxicologists consider the EU-described limit of 1.00 mg of methyl mercury per kilogram of meat to be far too high. Only around 20% of the samples were between 0.22 and 0.5 milligrams of methyl mercury in one kilo of shark meat. 57% were between 0.5 and 1.00 mg/kg; Nearly 23% of the samples were up to more than four times the limit value.
Methyl mercury increases in the body with repeated consumption, thus accumulating over time. Even the smallest amounts of this nerve toxin are highly toxic and not only significantly increase the risk of cancer: Methyl mercury affects the brain (especially in children and adolescents) and is well-known to trigger Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Why does this matter to Shark conservation? Because the shark meat market is used as a justification to keep selling fins, the excuse is that nothing of the shark should be wasted. The truth is that the meat trade would not be profitable without the fin trade. The result is that governments support an unhealthy product (shark meat), to keep up a devastating trade (shark fins), because they are told it’s an important part of the fishing economy. And the global shark meat market is growing every year.
This insanity is decimating sharks globally. To read more about these topics, check out our section on overfishing and Bycatch and the trade of shark fins.
