The Shark Trust is a UK registered marine conservation charity dedicated to promoting the study, management, and conservation of sharks, skates and rays in the UK and internationally.

On the 1st December, Grant Bates from the Shark Trust will be coming to speak to us about, why we should conserve sharks, how the Shark Trust is helping to protect endangered sharks and what they are doing to legislate against shark finning. He is a trustee of the trust and has been working as a volunteer presenter for four years. He finds that sharks are certainly ‘cool animals’ with amazing physiology that has evolved over the last 350 million years, and feels that the best way to try and preserve these animals is through education.

Why conserve sharks?
Sharks have inhabited the world’s oceans for millions of years but, within only a few decades, humanity has put many species at risk. In the mid 1990s an estimated 100 million sharks were being killed every year as a result of bycatch and the vast international demand for shark fins for soup.

A recent report on sharks in the Northwest Atlantic reveals that populations of some large species have fallen by 75% to 90% since 1986. Other research indicates that some formerly highly abundant species are now present at less than 2% of their original numbers.

As apex predators, sharks maintain the balance of the marine ecosystem and play a critical role in our oceans. Their disappearance could have devastating effects on other fish species.

UK endangered species
The Shark Trust is working to secure the protection of several large species of skate and the Angel Shark under the current review of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

Already, codes of conduct have been produced for anglers targeting Common Skate, and boat handlers/swimmers approaching Basking Sharks. These aim to limit damage and stress to both animals whilst increasing public awareness.

Shark Finning Campaign
After high hopes of a shark finning ban, through European Regulation, in EU waters and by EU registered vessels worldwide in 2003, the resultant legislation was disappointingly weak. However, there will be a review of finning legislation in 2005, and the Trust will work to increase the support for tighter controls.

More information about the Shark Trust can be found at – www.sharktrust.org

Silverdale Road, Earley, Reading, RG6 7NG - Map: Multimap