News Gallery

Workshop for southwest Indian Ocean sets stage for monitoring and conservation of sharks and rays

Added to Press Releases on 19 April 2017

Marine experts and conservationists from the WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), TRAFFIC, the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), regional governments, and other groups have produced a status report and roadmap for protecting sharks and rays in the southwest Indian Ocean, one of the last remaining strongholds for these ancient creatures in the world’s oceans.

Four new countries join WWF’s Pacific Shark Heritage Programme

Added to Press Releases on 05 April 2017

Four new countries have joined the WWF’s Pacific Shark Heritage Programme (PSHP), with Niue, Solomon Islands, PNG and Guam joining Fiji, Samoa, French Polynesia and Palau as full-fledged members.

Ever wondered how to dive responsibly with sharks and rays?

Added to Blogs on 03 April 2017

By Ian Campbell

Even though I have logged too many dives to keep count, almost none of them have been for recreation. In my early diving days as a commercial diver, not a single dive was with the animals that had drawn me to study marine biology in the first place: sharks.

World's first-ever best-practice guide for responsible shark and ray tourism released

Added to Press Releases on 03 March 2017

Project AWARE®, WWF and The Manta Trust are pleased to release Responsible Shark and Ray Tourism: A Guide to Best Practice, the world’s first-ever guidelines for shark and ray tourism operators.

Discovery of new shark species highlights need to protect Belize waters

Added to Press Releases on 15 February 2017

The discovery of a new shark species in Belize waters comes as a reminder of the need to protect the waters around the Central American country, home to the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve system, the longest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere.

Not in their kitchens: 18,000+ hotels now ban shark fin

Added to Press Releases on 17 January 2017

Action taken by global hotel brands to ban shark fin dishes from their offerings over the last five years has gathered tremendous momentum, with over 18,000 international hotels having taken this declining group of species off their menus.

WCPFC rejects proposal to protect Pacific sharks from finning

Added to Press Releases on 12 December 2016

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has rejected a proposal to strengthen rules that would help eliminate shark finning, the practise of removing a shark’s fins, and discarding the body at sea.

Sharks and CITES: crossing my fins for a win-win scenario

Added to Blogs on 15 October 2016

By Umair Shahid

I am feeling a bit nervous and a bit nostalgic for an event from three years ago. In the build-up to a critical vote on sharks and rays at the 17th CITES conference in South Africa in the coming days, my stomach is tied in knots, writes Umair Shahid, North Indian Ocean Cooridnator, WWF-Pakistan.

Between the devil and the deep blue sea

Added to Blogs on 05 August 2016

By Ian Campbell

When surveying people’s favourite sea creatures, sharks are nearly always at the top of the list. Many more sophisticated ocean animal lovers may also champion the wonders of the massive manta ray. Very few, however, are likely to include the manta’s smaller and more elusive cousins, devil rays, among their top marine treasures. As someone who works in the shark and ray field, this comes as no surprise to me.

Battle to save the threshers

Added to Blogs on 22 July 2016

By Andy Cornish

I saw my first thresher shark back in 2013, 30 metres below the surface of the Visayan Sea, as night turned to day above.

Sharks without borders

Added to Blogs on 18 March 2016

By Ian Campbell

Advocating shark and ray conservation measures at the the annual meeting of the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission

Protecting ocean predators

Added to Blogs on 10 June 2015

By Andy Cornish

Recent research on global shark and ray landings highlighted Sri Lanka among several countries that have suffered the greatest declines over the last decade. Reading the findings caused me to cast my mind back to my own experience in that country almost exactly a year ago.