IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG)

What IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG) does

The IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG) is a specialized conservation science network established in 1991 under the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Headquartered in Gland, Switzerland, the SSG operates as a volunteer expert network drawing on IUCN's broader community of over 10,500 SSC experts and 1,400+ member organizations. The group's core function is producing IUCN Red List assessments for chondrichthyans - sharks, rays, and chimaeras - and has now completed comprehensive global assessments of all ~1,300+ known species twice, positioning itself as the recognized global authority on the conservation status of these fishes.

Name

IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG)

Legal name

IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group

Website

https://iucnssg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group, established in 1991, is a global conservation science network producing IUCN Red List assessments for sharks, rays, and chimaeras, serving policymakers, governments, and conservation organizations worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Science

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE), Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

Keywords

• Marine conservation science
• Species risk assessment
• Biodiversity conservation research
• Fisheries policy advisory
• Marine habitat protection

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group is a science-based expert network that produces IUCN Red List conservation status assessments for all known sharks, rays, and chimaeras, identifies critical marine habitats through the Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) initiative, and publishes the Global Status of Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras report and Shark News. It advises international policy bodies including CITES, CMS, FAO, and RFMOs on species listings, fisheries management, and conservation action for chondrichthyan fishes.

Product overview

The IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group operates as a conservation science network rather than a commercial product company. Its offerings consist of: the Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) project, which identifies and maps critical marine habitats; the Global Status of Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras report providing comprehensive conservation assessments; Shark News publications; media resources and toolkits for conservation outreach; and Red List assessment workshops for training experts. These are scientific programs and publications, not software products or digital platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 816 Important Shark and Ray Areas identified globally
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991The SSG was established by the SSC in 1991 and operates as a science-based expert network under the SSC umbrella. The SSC provides institutional framework, Red List methodology, and access to the broader IUCN network of over 10,500 experts and 1,400 member organizations.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIUCN is the world's largest global environmental network providing the organizational umbrella. IUCN's membership union includes over 1,400 member organizations and over 17,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries.
• FAO - Food and Agriculture OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO adopted the International Plan of Action for Sharks (IPOA-SHARKS) in 1999. SSG members contributed to the APEC Technical Manual for Elasmobranch Fisheries Management Techniques and assist states with IPOA implementation.
• CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered SpeciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSG provides scientific assessments and recommendations for CITES species listings related to sharks, rays, and chimaeras. The group maintains a dedicated CITES page and has participated in the 17th Conference of Parties.
• CMS - Convention on Migratory SpeciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSG works with CMS on the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks (Sharks MOU) to coordinate conservation action for migratory shark species across their range states.
• Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSG provides scientific expertise and assessment data to RFMOs to support evidence-based fisheries management decisions affecting sharks and rays.
• IUCN Centre for Mediterranean CooperationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint workshops on Mediterranean Sea chondrichthyan conservation, including the 2003 IUCN SSG Red List Workshop held in San Marino.
• FAO and DEFRA (joint workshop sponsorship)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 2003 Deepsea Chondrichthyan Workshop was co-sponsored by FAO and DEFRA, held in conjunction with DeepSea 2003 in Dunedin, New Zealand.
• INSTM - National Institute of Sciences and Technologies of the Sea (Tunisia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted the 2019 Mediterranean Angel Sharks Regional Action Plan workshop in Salammbô, Tunisia.
• Zoological Society of LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for IUCN Red List Workshop in 1996, demonstrating historical partnership with ZSL for species assessment activities.
• American Elasmobranch SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSG meetings have been held during AES annual meetings since 1996, with the 2003 South America workshop held as part of the 19th AES Meeting in Manaus, Brazil.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IUCN Species Survival Commission: The parent scientific commission within IUCN of which the SSG is a specialist group. Directly comparable as the science-based network that convenes global experts to produce IUCN Red List assessments and species conservation strategies.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Major global conservation organization with significant marine and shark research programs. Comparable as a large nonprofit applying species science to international policy and protected-area design.
• The Nature Conservancy: Large global environmental nonprofit with marine programs that use IUCN Red List assessments and influence marine spatial planning. Comparable as a science-driven marine conservation funder and policy actor.
• BirdLife International: IUCN partner operating a global species-data and Important Bird Areas framework analogous to SSG's ISRA initiative. Comparable as a specialist conservation network producing habitat datasets that drive protected-area policy.

Direct peers

• TRAFFIC: Wildlife trade monitoring network that is a strategic partner of IUCN and works directly on shark/ray trade analysis for CITES. Closely comparable as an IUCN-affiliated science-policy network addressing species exploitation.

Others

• CITES Secretariat: Regulatory body to which the SSG directly feeds scientific assessments. Comparable as a multilateral conservation governance institution operating globally on species trade protections.
• CMS Secretariat (Convention on Migratory Species): Treaty body for migratory species with which the SSG partners on the Sharks MOU. Comparable as an international policy framework coordinating cross-border marine conservation.

Emerging players

• Shark Research Institute: Specialized nonprofit focused on shark and ray research and conservation, contributing data also used by the SSG. Comparable as a smaller, specialist marine conservation organization with overlapping scientific scope.
• Marine Stewardship Council: Global nonprofit setting sustainability standards for seafood, directly affected by SSG Red List assessments. Comparable as an NGO using scientific species data to influence fisheries governance and market certification.
• Oceana: International ocean-focused advocacy organization combining science with policy campaigns. Comparable as a marine conservation nonprofit working on fisheries policy and species protection, often citing IUCN Red List data.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IUCNShark
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@IUCNSSGShark
• Facebookfacebook.com/IUCNShark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iucnshark
• Instagraminstagram.com/iucnshark

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG)