The Shark Trust
The Shark Trust is a UK-registered marine conservation charity (founded 1997, Plymouth HQ) running citizen science projects, policy advocacy and public education focused exclusively on sharks, skates and rays worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersPlymouth, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Shark Trust does
The Shark Trust is a UK-registered charity founded in 1997 and headquartered in Plymouth, with a secondary office in Brussels, dedicated to the conservation of sharks, skates and rays (elasmobranchs). It operates a portfolio of citizen science projects — most notably the Great Eggcase Hunt, launched in 2003, which has accumulated over 600,000 eggcase records from 49 species across 30 countries, supported by mobile apps for iOS and Android, online recording hubs, and photo-ID databases for basking sharks. Additional programs include the Basking Shark Project, the Shark and Ray Entanglement Network (Sh.a.R.E.N.), the Sawfish: See A Saw initiative, an Angling Project with ID guides for 41 shark species, and the Oceanic 31 art project.
The Trust is run by a small core team of approximately six staff based in Plymouth, supplemented by a board of trustees chaired by Charles Hood and led by Managing Director Paul Cox. Funding is diversified across annual membership subscriptions, targeted donation appeals (Indian Ocean Sharks, Big Shark Pledge, Great Eggcase Hunt, Basking Shark), merchandise and shark adoption packages sold via a Shopify storefront, event ticket sales (Shark Town Premiere, For the Love of Sharks gala, EEA Conference), and grants from bodies such as NERC and the Disney Conservation Fund. Distribution is supported by international partners including Sea Life, CSIRO, the Dutch Shark Society, APECE (Portugal), LAMNA (Spain), and the University of Exeter, alongside over 800 regional events through TeamSHARK chapters across the UK.
Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on grassroots citizen science participation, flagship events, digital campaigns, and direct advocacy at international policy fora including CMS, CITES, and regional fisheries management bodies. The organization claims influence across more than 100 nations, while the Brussels office supports EU-level policy engagement. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.
The Shark Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Shark Trust
- Legal name
- The Shark Trust
- Website
- https://sharktrust.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Shark Trust is a UK-registered marine conservation charity (founded 1997, Plymouth HQ) running citizen science projects, policy advocacy and public education focused exclusively on sharks, skates and rays worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Shark Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Conservation
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)
Keywords
Where The Shark Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Plymouth
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Shark Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership program providing supporters with Shark Focus magazines, community membership benefits, and voice in conservation efforts. Drives recurring revenue and supporter engagement.
- Donations and Appeals: General donations and targeted appeals such as Indian Ocean Sharks Appeal, Big Shark Pledge Donation, Great Eggcase Hunt Donation, and Basking Shark Project Donation. Includes legacy giving and wills.
- Shark Shop and Merchandise: E-commerce platform operated through Shopify selling shark adoptions, gift memberships, clothing and accessories. Raises funds while promoting conservation awareness.
- Event Tickets: Revenue from flagship events including Shark Town Premiere (£15 tickets, £12.50 for members), For the Love of Sharks gala, and EEA conference registrations (student registration €50).
- Shark Adoption Program: Adopt-a-Shark programs supporting vital research, including Great White Shark adoption in partnership with USA research. Provides supporter engagement alongside fundraising.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Shark Town Premiere event tickets |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | EEA 2026 Conference student registration |
| Subscription | Annual | Shark adoption programs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Shark Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Shark Trust is a UK-registered marine conservation charity that delivers the conservation of sharks, skates and rays through citizen science projects (Great Eggcase Hunt, Basking Shark Project, Sh.a.R.E.N., Sawfish: See A Saw), species identification guides, policy advocacy at international and EU levels, public education, and membership-driven community engagement. Revenue is generated through annual memberships, donations and appeals, merchandise and shark adoption packages sold via a Shopify e-commerce store, ticketed events including the EEA Conference and For the Love of Sharks gala, and grants from research funders.
Product overview
The Shark Trust is a UK-based marine conservation charity offering a suite of digital and non-digital products centered on shark, skate, and ray conservation. The core digital offerings include the Great Eggcase Hunt citizen science platform (with companion mobile app for iOS/Android), the Basking Shark Project for species monitoring, the Shark and Ray Entanglement Network for marine debris reporting, and the Angling Project providing recording tools and best practice guidelines. These are complemented by educational products including comprehensive Shark ID Guides (41 species) and Skate & Ray ID Guides, plus the Sawfish: See A Saw citizen science initiative. Non-digital offerings include membership programs, shark adoption packages, a merchandise shop, annual events (EEA Conference, For the Love of Sharks), and community science projects. The portfolio operates as interconnected conservation tools, with data collected through citizen science projects feeding into research and advocacy efforts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Great Eggcase Hunt: Flagship citizen science project encouraging people to find and record shark, skate and ray eggcases on beaches worldwide.
- Basking Shark Project
- Shark and Ray Entanglement Network (Sh.a.R.E.N.)
- Sawfish: See A Saw
- Angling Project
- Oceanic 31
- Tiburones y Rayas
Products and services
- Shark Trust Membership Annual membership program allowing supporters to join the Shark Trust community, receive Shark Focus magazines, and contribute to shark conservation advocacy and campaigns.
- Great Eggcase Hunt Citizen science project inviting volunteers worldwide to find and record shark, skate and ray eggcases on beaches; companion mobile app and online recording hub with ID guides and an interactive mapping dashboard.
- Shark Trust Mobile App Mobile application available on iOS and Android for recording eggcase finds and shark sightings in the field, supporting the Great Eggcase Hunt and other citizen science projects.
- Basking Shark Project Citizen science initiative encouraging the public to record basking shark sightings during the May-October season using a photo-identification database that identifies individual sharks from unique fin markings, pigmentation and scars.
- Shark and Ray Entanglement Network (Sh.a.R.E.N.) Citizen science project collecting data on sharks and rays entangled in marine debris or ghost fishing gear, identifying species at risk and global entanglement hotspots, with research collaboration with the University of Exeter.
- Angling Project Responsible shark, skate and ray angling initiative providing best practice guidelines, catch recording tools, sea-angling advisories for threatened species, and ID guides for 41 shark species.
- Adopt a Shark Symbolic shark adoption programmes supporting vital research for various shark species including Great White Sharks, with supporters receiving adoption packages and contributing to species-specific conservation efforts.
- Shark Shop E-commerce store operated on Shopify offering shark-inspired gifts, merchandise, adoption packages, and memberships to raise funds and promote conservation awareness.
- Shark ID Guides Identification guides for 41 shark species found in the British Isles and Northeast Atlantic, including full guides and pocket-sized rapid reference guides.
- Sawfish: See A Saw Citizen science project in partnership with the Sawfish Conservation Society documenting sawfish rostra in collections worldwide to support conservation efforts for all 5 endangered sawfish species.
- European Elasmobranch Association (EEA) Conference Annual academic conference bringing together researchers, conservationists, and enthusiasts to present work on elasmobranch science and conservation; student bursaries available.
- Oceanic 31 Shark and ray art project featuring 31 artists each focusing on one oceanic shark or ray species, with a 360-degree virtual exhibition and limited edition prints available for purchase.
- Tiburones y Rayas (Spanish Shark and Rays Project) Collaborative project with LAMNA supporting the Spanish-speaking elasmobranch community through science sharing, networking, and inspiration for new generations.
- For the Love of Sharks Annual Gala Flagship annual fundraising gala held at the Royal Geographical Society in London, featuring a line-up of speakers and activities for shark conservation supporters.
- Donations and Appeals General donations and targeted appeals such as Indian Ocean Sharks Appeal, Big Shark Pledge, Great Eggcase Hunt Donation, Basking Shark Project Donation, and legacy giving.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 600,000 eggcases recorded through citizen science participation
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Shark Trust
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Shark Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature4 records
The Shark Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)coreLaunched Great Eggcase Hunt Australia in 2023 in partnership with CSIRO to expand the citizen science project to Australian waters and species.
- Grote Eikapsel Jacht (Dutch Shark Society)corePartnership to develop and distribute the Great Eggcase Hunt project in the Netherlands, launched in April 2015. Collaborates on eggcase identification guides and citizen science resources.
- Portuguese Association for the Study and Conservation of Elasmobranchs (APECE)corePartner for Grande Caça Ovos (Portuguese Great Eggcase Hunt) distributing the citizen science project in Portugal with localized resources and ID guides.
- Sea LifecoreGlobal partner to the Great Eggcase Hunt supporting development of resources including the Shark Trust's citizen science app and promoting participation across Sea Life centers.
- University of Exeter (Marine)coreCollaboration with University of Exeter researchers (Kristian Parton, Tamara Galloway, Brendan Godley) on the Shark and Ray Entanglement Network (Sh.a.R.E.N.) project to study marine debris entanglement threats.
- Sawfish Conservation SocietycoreCollaboration on the 'See a Saw' citizen science project to find and document sawfish rostra in collections worldwide, supporting sawfish conservation efforts.
- LAMNAcorePartnership with Spanish elasmobranch association LAMNA on the Tiburones y Rayas (Spanish Shark and Rays Project) following Sharks International 2022 conference to strengthen the Spanish-speaking conservation community.
- Various International OrganizationsminorSister projects and collaborators including Programme CapOeRa (APECS France), Marine Dimensions (Ireland), ELMO (South Africa), Orkney Skate Trust, Shetland Community Wildlife Group, Project SIARC (Wales), Sea Deep project (Northern Ireland), Wild Coast Sussex.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Shark Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- WildAid: Global wildlife conservation nonprofit with marine programs reducing demand for shark fins and other wildlife products — comparable in marine-species advocacy and donor-funded campaign model.
- Oceana: Large international ocean-conservation advocacy organization focused on fisheries policy — comparable in marine-policy advocacy scope but operates at much larger scale across broader ocean issues rather than shark-specialized.
Direct peers
- Fauna & Flora International: UK- and global-based species conservation charity with marine programs — comparable as a UK-rooted conservation NGO using policy advocacy, partnerships, and donor engagement to deliver species-protection outcomes.
- Project AWARE Foundation: Diver-led marine conservation nonprofit operating citizen-science and policy programs globally — comparable in mobilizing dive and beach communities for shark/ray data collection and ocean policy advocacy.
- Shark Research Institute: Global nonprofit dedicated to scientific research on sharks and rays and education/outreach — directly comparable in species focus (elasmobranchs) and citizen-science/community engagement approach.
- Marine Conservation Society: UK-based charity focused on marine conservation including fish stocks, seafood sustainability, and protected species — the closest domestic peer sharing the UK marine-conservation nonprofit mission and citizen-engagement model.
- Shark Conservation Society: UK-focused shark conservation society founded by Shark Trust Trustee Richard Peirce — highly comparable species specialization, UK geographic base, and policy/awareness mission.
- Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: International marine conservation nonprofit with campaigns on sharks and ocean wildlife — comparable as an advocacy-and-action marine NGO with global footprint and donor-driven funding.
- Sawfish Conservation Society: Specialist elasmobranch conservation charity partnering with The Shark Trust on the See A Saw project — directly comparable species focus and small-team NGO operating model.
Regional players
- European Elasmobranch Association: Scientific society hosted by The Shark Trust for the annual EEA conference — comparable in elasmobranch research and conservation community focus at the European regional level.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Shark Trust social profiles
Digital presenceThe Shark Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Shark Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
The Shark Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Shark Trust M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Shark Trust
What does The Shark Trust do?
The Shark Trust is a UK-registered marine conservation charity that delivers the conservation of sharks, skates and rays through citizen science projects (Great Eggcase Hunt, Basking Shark Project, Sh.a.R.E.N., Sawfish: See A Saw), species identification guides, policy advocacy at international and EU levels, public education, and membership-driven community engagement. Revenue is generated through annual memberships, donations and appeals, merchandise and shark adoption packages sold via a Shopify e-commerce store, ticketed events including the EEA Conference and For the Love of Sharks gala, and grants from research funders.
Is The Shark Trust a public or private company?
The Shark Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Shark Trust founded?
The Shark Trust was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Shark Trust based?
The Shark Trust is headquartered in Plymouth, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Shark Trust make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are donations and Appeals, shark Shop and Merchandise, event Tickets and shark Adoption Program.
Who are The Shark Trust's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are WildAid and Oceana. Direct peers are Fauna & Flora International, Project AWARE Foundation, Shark Research Institute, Marine Conservation Society, Shark Conservation Society, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Sawfish Conservation Society. European Elasmobranch Association is listed as a regional player.
Does The Shark Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Shark Trust.
What industry is The Shark Trust in?
The Shark Trust's product category is Marine Conservation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAE, Marine & Freshwater Conservation, with a secondary code of THAAAIAH, Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks). Its NAICS code is 813312.