Atlantis Dubai announces the selection of seven local and international conservation and sustainability projects set to receive funding from the Atlantis Atlas Project Contribution Programme 2025-26 cycle, including the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. From June 2024 to May 2025, for every green meeting event and marine animal experience participated in by a guest, Atlantis Dubai contributed a portion of earnings, resulting in a $123,000 (USD) fund, which aims to support projects that help protect the ocean and our environment. Since the programme was launched in 2021, the initiative has now raised over half a million dollars ($509,000) and supported 30 projects.
We want to invite you to discover the twelfth issue of Shark News – the official IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Shark Specialist Group (SSG) magazine. Shark News provides a forum for the exchange of information on all aspects of shark, ray, and chimaera conservation matters for SSG members and the general interested audience.
In a recent article from Forbes the Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) project’s publication entitled ‘Shortfalls in the protection of Important Shark and Ray Areas undermine shark conservation efforts in the Central and South American Pacific’.
NEW PAPER ALERT | Read the latest publication from the Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) project in the journal iScience highlighting:
Important Areas are tools to support effective marine conservation planning;
1. Adding critical habitats to range maps enhances systematic conservation solutions;
2. Including critical habitats in solutions can cover a similar area but differ in cost; and
3. Considering Important Areas will enhance outcomes for threatened species protection
Read this article featured on The Revelator with an interview from IUCN SSC SSG chair Rima Jabado on the Global status of sharks, rays, and chimaeras. This article discusses the importance of these animals, their conservation concern leading to the creation of this report, with notes on the process behind the scenes.
NEW PUBLICATION
We looked at how Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) can also support the identification of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs).
Our findings? 1 in 5 ISRAs already qualify as KBAs.
These area-based management tools are complimentary and using them together can be powerful to ensure nations meet their 30×30 commitments under Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Read here the story on the changes to the status of sharks and rays in the last 50 years since the movie ‘Jaws’ was released, featuring information from the Global status on sharks, rays, and chimaeras report.
As the biodiversity crisis in our oceans continues to raise alarm, major progress to protect pivotal ocean species was achieved today at the UN Ocean Conference.
See the newest publication on the Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) project published in the journal, PLOS One.
García-Rodríguez E, Gonzalez-Pestana A, Charles R, Palacios MD, Notarbartolo di Sciara G, Alfaro-Shigueto J, et al. (2025). Mapping Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) in the Central and South American Pacific: existing knowledge and data needs. PLoS One 20(4): e0322445. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322445
Read about how the Fernando de Noronha, an ISRA identified in the South American Atlantic, was highlighted in this article by g1 | globo.
