The European Elasmobranch Association (EEA) is a non-profit umbrella organisation of European organisations dedicated to the study, management and conservation of sharks, skates, rays and chimaeras (cartilaginous fishes or chondrichthyans).
The objectives of the EEA are to coordinate the regional and international activities of its member organisations to advance research, sustainable management, conservation and education on cartilaginous fishes throughout Europe.
The EEA was established in 1996 as a share-holding organisation. It is an association of organisations, not individuals and each country is represented by one member.
The EEA is run by a Board of Directors (one EEA delegate from each of its member organisations), which appoints a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and other officers. The board formally meets at the EEA Annual Scientific Meeting and holds the Annual General Meeting (AGM) concurrently. This provides opportunities to discuss business and policy issues and report back on activities over the previous year.
The EEA holds Annual Scientific Meetings, which are attended by international researchers, non-governmental organisation (NGO) representatives, students and interested members of the public, offering high profile discussions and a presentation forum in the marine science and conservation context. In recent years, both the Annual General Meeting and Annual Scientific Meeting, have been combined and are the highlight of European elasmobranch activities. The EEA was a founding member of the Shark Alliance and has served as a Steering Group Member during the campaign’s work from 2006 to 2013.
If you want to get involved in European elasmobranch research and/or conservation, you can support the EEA’s objectives by joining one or more of its member organisations and help conserve these susceptible animals.
The EEA’s name derives from the scientific term ‘elasmobranchii’ for the classification group of sharks, skates, and rays.