American Elasmobranch Society

What American Elasmobranch Society does

The American Elasmobranch Society (AES) is the world's oldest and largest professional scientific society dedicated to the study and management of sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras. Founded in 1983 by Samuel "Sonny" Gruber, Leonard Compagno, and Donald Nelson, and incorporated as a Florida non-profit, AES serves an international membership of marine biologists, ichthyologists, fisheries scientists, students (approximately half the membership), aquarium professionals, and conservation practitioners. The society operates without proprietary technology products, instead functioning as a knowledge-sharing and research-coordination platform anchored by an annual scientific conference held jointly with the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (JMIH).

AES's core offerings include its annual scientific conference and special symposia (Global Wedgefish & Guitarfish Symposium 2021; Contributions of Aquariums to Elasmobranch Research 2024), the Beyond Jaws podcast (launched 2021 with Save Our Seas Foundation support), a layered awards program (Distinguished Fellow Award, Eugenie Clark Award, multiple student research and travel awards), and standing committees advancing conservation policy and equity/diversity initiatives such as the Young Professional Recruitment Fund. The society also operates a CafePress merchandise storefront whose proceeds support student travel.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual membership dues across six tiers (Student $40, Regular $100, Emeritus $50, Lifetime $2,000, Student Developing Country $10, Professional Developing Country $30), supplemented by member donations via PayPal/Venmo/Zelle/check, merchandise sales, event registrations, and limited podcast sponsorship. Governance is by an elected Board of Directors and Executive Committee (e.g., President Jim Gelsleichter, Treasurer Jeremy Vaudo, Secretary Bryan Frazier, Conference Chair Chip Cotton as of recent conference years), with no private equity, venture, or institutional investor ownership. AES pursues international reach (members and symposia participants spanning 37+ countries), sustained equity and diversity programming, and policy-oriented conservation resolutions as its primary expansion vectors.

Name

American Elasmobranch Society

Legal name

American Elasmobranch Society

Website

https://elasmo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The American Elasmobranch Society is the world's oldest and largest non-profit professional scientific society dedicated to the study and management of sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras, serving an international membership of researchers, students, aquarium professionals, and conservation practitioners through annual conferences, awards, and the Beyond Jaws podcast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Scientific Society / Marine Biology Research

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI), Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

Keywords

• Shark research society
• Marine biology membership
• Elasmobranch conservation
• Scientific conference services
• Research awards funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Bradenton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from Student ($40), Regular ($100), Emeritus ($50), Lifetime ($2,000), Student Developing Country ($10), and Professional Developing Country ($30) categories. Membership is based on calendar year.
2. Beyond Jaws Podcast: Official podcast of AES covering shark science, supported by the Save Our Seas Foundation. The podcast features interviews with researchers and scientists in the field.
3. Donations: AES accepts donations via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, and mailed checks to support the scientific study and conservation of elasmobranch fishes.
4. AES Store Merchandise: AES operates a merchandise store through CafePress offering logo merchandise. The store is run at annual conferences with proceeds supporting student travel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The American Elasmobranch Society is a non-profit professional scientific society that advances the study and conservation of elasmobranch fishes (sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras). It delivers value through annual scientific conferences held jointly with the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (JMIH), a multi-tier awards and grants program for students and early-career scientists, the Beyond Jaws podcast, and conservation policy advocacy. Members gain access to the global elasmobranch research community, professional development, and funding opportunities.

Product overview

The American Elasmobranch Society is a non-profit scientific organization offering a unified portfolio of membership services focused on advancing the scientific study and conservation of sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras. The primary offerings include annual scientific conferences for presenting research, awards and funding programs supporting students and early-career scientists (Student Awards, Special Recognition Awards, Young Professional Recruitment Fund), the Beyond Jaws Podcast for science communication, and advocacy through the Conservation Committee. These services work together to support the professional development of elasmobranch researchers while promoting conservation and wise utilization of marine resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beyond Jaws Podcast: The official podcast of the American Elasmobranch Society that explores shark science through interviews with researchers and scientists studying elasmobranchs.

Products and services

• Annual Scientific Conferences Annual scientific meetings held jointly with JMIH (Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists) presenting research reports of interest to professionals and students of elasmobranch biology. Meetings rotate US cities (2025 St. Paul MN; 2026 New Orleans LA).
• Special Recognition Awards Program Special recognition awards program including the Distinguished Fellow Award (highest honor, first awarded 1987) and the Eugenie Clark Award ($2,500, for female early-career scientists demonstrating innovation and perseverance).
• Student Awards Program Comprehensive student support program including the Jeffrey C. & Carol A. Carrier Poster Award ($500), Samuel H. Gruber Presentation Award, Student Research Awards ($2,000), and Student Travel Awards (up to $500, typically 12-15 awarded per year).
• Young Professional Recruitment Fund Early career support program providing two years of Society membership, professional development training, mentorship, and networking opportunities for international or historically underrepresented minority scientists within 5 years of earning their degree.
• Beyond Jaws Podcast Official podcast of AES covering shark science, supported by Save Our Seas Foundation. Features interviews with researchers and scientists studying sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras, including Dr. David Ebert, Dr. Greg Skomal, Dr. Lisa Natanson, Dr. Gavin Naylor, Dr. Dominique Didier, and Dr. Michelle Heupel.
• Conservation Committee Initiatives Conservation Committee providing scientific perspective on resource management debates addressing elasmobranch conservation issues, formulating annual resolutions for policy advocacy.
• Equity and Diversity Programs Standing committee supporting a welcoming atmosphere through the AES Code of Conduct, the Young Professional Recruitment Fund, and initiatives supporting underrepresented groups in marine science.
• AES Store Merchandise Logo merchandise offered through CafePress; also operated at annual conferences with proceeds supporting student travel.
• Annual Membership Membership tiers including Student ($40/year), Regular ($100/year), Emeritus ($50/year), Lifetime ($2,000 one-time), Student Developing Country ($10/year), and Professional Developing Country ($30/year). Membership is on a calendar-year basis.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students compete for 12-15 travel awards ($500 max each), research awards ($2,000), and presentation awards ($500) annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ripley's AquariumsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Represented by Jennifer Wyffels as symposium organizer for the 2024 Contributions of Aquariums to Elasmobranch Research symposium
• Shedd AquariumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Represented by Steve Kessel as symposium organizer for the 2024 Contributions of Aquariums to Elasmobranch Research symposium
• New England AquariumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Represented by Nicholas Whitney as session moderator for the 2024 symposium
• Pacific Shark Research Center (Moss Landing Marine Laboratories)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Co-sponsored the Global Wedgefish & Guitarfish Symposium 2021. Part of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, a leading center for shark and marine fish research.
• The Dallas World AquariumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Co-sponsored the Global Wedgefish & Guitarfish Symposium 2021
• Charles Darwin UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Co-sponsored the Global Wedgefish & Guitarfish Symposium 2021
• Georgia AquariumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Co-sponsored the Global Wedgefish & Guitarfish Symposium 2021 and the 2024 symposium on Contributions of Aquariums to Elasmobranch Research. Represented by researchers like Kady Lyons who serves on symposium organizing committees.
• American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAES meetings are held jointly with the annual meetings of the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (JMIH), which includes ASIH, the Herpetologist's League, and the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Abstract submissions go through ASIH procedures.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Mote Marine Laboratory: A core financial partner that co-funds AES's Eugenie Clark Award and operates the Center for Shark Research. Functions as both a research partner and adjacent marine research institution with overlapping scientific leadership.
• Save Our Seas Foundation: A core financial partner of AES that supports the Beyond Jaws podcast and co-funds the Eugenie Clark Award. Operates a similar conservation focus on sharks and rays with foundation funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Shark Research Institute: A nonprofit focused on elasmobranch research and conservation with global operations. Represents a broader, more conservation-action-oriented counterpart to AES's scientific-society model.
• IUCN Species Survival Commission - Shark Specialist Group: The IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group focuses on global shark and ray conservation policy, intersecting directly with AES's conservation mission. It's a more policy- and conservation-focused incumbent, with Sarah Fowler (a known AES contact) having served as former Co-Chair.

Direct peers

• The Herpetologists' League: Another JMIH partner society holding joint annual meetings with AES. Operates an analogous membership-driven scientific society structure focused on herpetology rather than elasmobranchs.
• Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles: A partner society within JMIH that shares the joint annual meeting structure with AES. While focused on amphibians and reptiles rather than elasmobranchs, both organizations operate the same membership-society model with shared conference logistics.
• American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH): ASIH is the most direct peer to AES - both are scientific societies whose meetings are held jointly through JMIH, with shared abstract submission procedures and overlapping ichthyology focus. ASIH covers fish and herpetofauna while AES specializes in elasmobranchs.
• International Coral Reef Society (ICRS): An international scientific society model paralleling AES - membership organization for coral reef researchers with quadrennial conferences, awards, and conservation focus on marine ecosystems.
• Society for Marine Mammalogy: Operates an analogous professional society model for marine mammal researchers - membership dues, annual conferences, awards programs, and conservation advocacy. Highly comparable structure and member engagement approach.

Regional players

• European Elasmobranch Association (EEA): A regional peer serving the same elasmobranch research community in Europe. Operates a similar membership society model for the European elasmobranch scientific community, complementing AES's global reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/elasmosociety
• YouTubeyoutube.com/wedgefish-guitarfish-symposium
• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/27630676239
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-elasmobranch-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Elasmobranch Society