About Shark Advocates International

Shark Advocates International is a non-profit (501c3) project of The Ocean Foundation dedicated to conserving some of the ocean's most vulnerable and valuable - the sharks.  Our mission is to provide leadership in advancing sound, science-based local, national, and international conservation policies through collaboration with a diverse array of organizations and decision makers.

Shark Advocates International is: A non-profit initiative dedicated to conserving some of the oceans' most vulnerable and valuable animals.

Shark Advocates International was founded by Sonja Fordham, an award-winning advocate and a leader in the field of shark conservation for two decades.  Ms. Fordham directed shark conservation projects at Ocean Conservancy from 1991-2009 and European policy work of the Shark Alliance from 2006-2010.  Her work is focused on publicizing the plight of sharks and advocating science-based policies on their behalf before fishery management and wildlife conservation bodies. 

Ms. Fordham has been at the forefront of numerous, landmark shark conservation actions, including the first US fishing limits on sharks and rays, US and international finning bans, the International Plan of Action for Sharks, listings for sharks under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, listing of sawfish under the US Endangered Species Act, various protections for threatened European sharks and rays, the first international shark fishing bans at Regional Fishery Management Organizations, and multiple UN General Assembly Resolutions encouraging shark conservation.

Ms. Fordham is a member of several shark and ray advisory panels and has co-authored numerous publications on shark fisheries management.  She serves as Deputy Chair for the Shark Specialist Group of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and as Chair of the Conservation Committee for the American Elasmobranch Society.

Shark Advocates International is grateful for generous support from our keystone contributors and partners including:

• The Ocean Foundation
• The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation
• The Firedoll Foundation
• Save Our Seas Foundation
• Oceans 5
• Ryan Pannell