Applications for Shark and Ray Conservation

The Shark Conservation Fund is a collaboration of philanthropists dedicated to solving the global shark and ray crisis. 

To that end, the fund is inviting applications for its small grants program, which will award grants of up to $25,000 over one year in support of ensuring effective regulation of global trade in shark and ray products through listing the top species of sharks and rays in global trade on CITES Appendices and implementing those listings, preventing the extinction of the most imperiled sharks and rays by enhancing legal protections in priority countries and at international forums, and combating unsustainable shark and ray fishing globally through the adoption and implementation of conservation and management measures through international forums and in priority countries. The fund typically makes 10 grants per year. 

Types of projects eligible for small grants include emerging conservation opportunities; small scientific studies, reports, or evaluations directly linked to advance shark and ray conservation policy in the near term; scoping larger shark and ray conservation and management projects; and capacity building for small NGOs, especially in developing countries.

Priority will be given to applicants that have not previously received funding from the SCF, projects that help implement the SCF’s investment strategy (especially projects that implement listings of sharks and rays on CITES), projects directly linked to efforts to improve shark and ray conservation policy, and small NGOs in developing countries. 

To be eligible, individuals or projects must be sponsored by a nonprofit or academic institution.  

Letters of Interest are due March 28, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. ET, and selected applicants will be invited to submit an online application form by May 13, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Shark Conservation Fund website.