Editorial: A note from the Chair

Dear readers,

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the second issue of Shark News, the official IUCN Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist Group (SSG) newsletter! I would like to open with heartfelt thanks again to all the members who contributed to our first issue with stories of all the great things happening in the shark conservation space. The newsletter was received with enthusiasm and we had fantastic feedback. I am so happy to have a platform where the SSG network can stay connected and informed. This second issue is even more packed with incredible stories. As you know, the challenge of shark conservation requires merging different scientific fields so we can achieve our ultimate goal of healthy shark populations. The contents of this issue reflect just that! It is loaded with information on projects being carried out across the world. It is clear that SSG members have been busy, and these stories bring optimism and hope that together we can and are making a difference. The stories are inspiring, hopeful, and engaging -- from using art as a tool for social change and education on sharks and rays, interviewing the public in Hong Kong about the shark fin trade and consumption patterns, establishing a network of researchers across the European range of Angel Sharks and developing regional action plans, collaborating across borders to save a Critically Endangered Sand Tiger Shark population in South America, using fisher knowledge to understand the status of sawfishes in Sri Lanka, organizing a regional symposium to bring together scientists and find synergies across research and management actions, exploring shark fisheries in Albania and Kenya, and studying Silky Sharks in the Atlantic Ocean. These stories are exemplary in showcasing how different individuals are pushing beyond the constraints of daily realities, taking risks despite the complexities of their situations, and proving that there are so many ways to contribute to shark conservation. Indeed, the fate of sharks is inextricably linked to all these projects, their findings, how we use them to inform policy, and our interactions with each other. But don’t miss out on other news such as the first record of a juvenile Megamouth Shark from China, what shark species are listed on the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and what that means, an update on the beautiful ‘River Jewels’ – the South American Freshwater Stingrays, the hunt for the East Atlantic Pygmy Devil Ray off West Africa, information on how shark liver oil is being used, the upcoming release of the much-awaited new edition of Sharks of the World, and a new book on shark biology and conservation. You will also find an invitation to take part in a training course on the human dimensions of shark conservation, information on upcoming IUCN Red List of Threatened Species assessments and how you can get involved, and the establishment of a new Working Group on Marine Historical Ecology. I truly believe that together we can make a difference and I am excited to continue receiving these contributions and learning about everyone’s work. Thank you to all the photographers that have shared their imagery – they allow us to tell the story of the diversity and beauty of sharks to an audience that can make a difference for the future of their conservation. Special thanks once again to Michael Scholl, Chair of the Communication Working Group, for coordinating all the contributions and the design of the newsletter. And finally, thank you to all the members for their dedication and contributions which continue to make Shark News a reality and the public face of shark science.