Ten years after leopard (zebra) sharks were listed as Endangered, Thailand’s StAR Project has reintroduced the species to the wild. With support from Shark Guardian, WildAid, and partners, young sharks are now swimming free in the Andaman Sea. This milestone shows how science, education, and citizen action can bring sharks back from the brink.

Recent shark incidents in Australia are linked to natural factors like heavy rainfall, murky water, and shifting prey movements — conditions where sharks naturally thrive. As Brendon Sing from Shark Guardian explains, these aren’t “shark invasions” but normal ocean patterns reminding us that sharks belong here and play a vital role in healthy marine ecosystems.

A major DNA study of over 16,000 shark fin samples from Hong Kong has revealed that 6.5% came from globally protected species — far higher than official reports. Critically endangered oceanic whitetip fins were found at levels 70 times above declared figures, exposing widespread illegal trade and urgent gaps in global shark protection enforcement.

2025 was a turning point for shark conservation — from global CITES protections to citizen science driving real change. As we head into 2026, Shark Guardian continues to lead through education, research, and action, empowering people and communities to protect sharks, rays, and the oceans they call home.

Four young Indo-Pacific leopard sharks — Maiton, Hope, Spot, and Toty — were released into the Andaman Sea under Project STAR Thailand, a national effort to restore one of Thailand’s most endangered shark species. Supported by Shark Guardian and partners, this milestone marks real progress in leopard shark recovery and ocean conservation.

In a historic win for ocean conservation, CITES CoP20 has adopted sweeping global protections for more than 70 shark and ray species, including a full international trade ban for the Oceanic Whitetip Shark. This marks the first-ever Appendix I listing for a shark, signaling a new era for marine conservation and a vital opportunity for global recovery efforts led by organizations like Shark Guardian.

During EU Ocean Week 2025 in Brussels, Shark Guardian joined leading conservation groups to urge the European Commission to deliver on its promise of an EU-wide shark fin ban. Despite over 1.1 million citizens supporting this initiative in 2022, decisive action has yet to be taken. The “Shark Lab” event at the European Parliament brought together scientists, NGOs, and policymakers to highlight the urgent need to protect sharks and end the trade that threatens their survival.

The new High Seas Treaty is a historic win for our oceans, aiming to protect 30% of international waters by 2030. For sharks, this means safer habitats, less destructive fishing, and a chance to recover as vital top predators. Protecting sharks helps restore food webs, biodiversity, and resilient oceans that benefit all life — including us.

We at Shark Guardian are alarmed by the 26th August 2025 announcement that the Gulper shark fishery will reopen in November under a comprehensive management plan. This move is deeply troubling—not only because it undermines the Maldives’ reputation as a global shark sanctuary but also because it risks the long-term health of the nation’s tourism-dependent economy.