The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group
SSG Funding Acknowledgements
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The Shark Specialist Group (SSG) has recently received funding from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and from the Packard Foundation to support the work of the Group
WCS have donated almost US$15,000 for the publication of the global shark status report: "Sharks, rays and chimaeras: the status of the chondrichthyan fishes", currently in the final stages of preparation. For the past few years SSG members, with funds from the Audubon Society and the US State Department, have been assembling detailed status reports on over 100 elasmobranch species, regional reports on the status of shark fisheries, information on taxonomy, trade, economics, and conservation and management actions. The report, due for publication in late 2002, will be the most comprehensive resource documenting the worldwide threat to sharks, and will provide the "big picture" in terms of conservation needs. The publication will be distributed to SSG members, fisheries departments, universities and other research institutions, IUCN, national conservation groups, FAO, and SSG donors.
The Packard Foundation has donated US$200,000 as core funds for the SSG to carry out vital work over the next two years. The funds will be used to support much of the work of the group, including work associated with the implementation of the FAO International Plan of Action for Shark Conservation and Management (IPOA-Sharks). SSG members are being increasingly called upon to contribute to FAO technical consultations and workshops, and to provide advice to States and regional management bodies seeking to develop Shark Plans - activities that require funding. Regional shark management training workshops will take place with the help of the Packard funds, in order to raise awareness and generate momentum towards implementing the IPOA-Sharks.
SSG members will be closely involved with assessment of CITES shark listing proposals and trade reviews for future Conferences. The high level of SSG input required will be largely dependent on the Packard funds which will facilitate attendance of the Co-Chairs and Programme Officer at the relevant meetings and for SSG members to devote time to proposal analyses.
The group is also responsible for completing Red List assessments for all 1,000+ species of chondrichthyan fish during the next triennium. Packard funds will be used for a Red List workshop, to present results at international meetings and for work to continue to resolve the difficult issues associated with listings for marine species.
The SSG website (hosted by the Florida Museum of Natural History) will be significantly enhanced with the funds, increasing the effectiveness of the site in providing users with accurate and up to date information, and the SSG's newsletter (Shark News) will continue to be provided free of charge to an international readership.
All in all, these generous financial contributions from WCS and the Packard Foundation, together with the long-term grant-aid which the SSG has been receiving from the US State Department, and a three-year grant from the UK government (the latter to employ the SSG Programme Officer from 2001-03), will enable the SSG not only to keep pace with, but to continue to take the lead on developments aimed at achieving improved conservation and management of elasmobranchs, and to offer advice and technical support where it is needed.
Shark Specialist Group website: www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Organizations/SSG/ssg.htm
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