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Shark Trust is a
charitable organizationA charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
founded in the UK in 1997
"dedicated to promoting the study, management, and conservation of
sharkSharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
s,
skateSkates are cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Rajidae in the superorder Batoidea of rays. There are more than 200 described species in 27 genera. There are two subfamilies, Rajinae and Arhynchobatinae ....
s and
rayBatoidea is a superorder of cartilaginous fish commonly known as rays and skates, containing more than 500 described species in thirteen families...
s (Elasmobranchs) in the UK and internationally.".
As support for the importance of shark conservation, the Trust cites findings that the populations of some shark species have been reduced to 2% of their original levels. The Trust operates scientific research and education programmes, and works with divers, politicians, boat owners, and commercial and recreational fishers as well as the general public. It has produced codes of conduct for approaching
basking sharkThe basking shark is the second largest living fish, after the whale shark. It is a cosmopolitan migratory species, found in all the world's temperate oceans. It is a slow moving and generally harmless filter feeder and has anatomical adaptations to filter feeding, such as a greatly enlarged...
s and
whale sharkThe whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is a slow-moving filter feeding shark, the largest extant fish species. The largest confirmed individual had a length of and a weight of more than , but unconfirmed claims report considerably larger whale sharks...
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safely and responsibly. It campaigns for legislative protection of vulnerable shark species and for tighter legislation restricting shark finning.
To raise funds, the Shark Trust holds events throughout the year, including eggcase hunts at which participants search the coastline for shark eggcases. It also allows members to "adopt" specific sharks.
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