From the 10th to the 13th of November the Irish Elasmobranch Group hosted the 14th Annual Scientific Meeting of the European Elasmobranch Association in the city of Galway, Ireland.

During those days over a hundred assistants could learn about the latest researches in different fields related with elasmobranches (biology, fisheries, conservation and awareness). One of the most developed disciplines during the meeting was the use of genetic studies, which are currently used to further the knowledge of shark populations: origin, movements, taxonomy, etc.

This year the key note speaker was Dr. Nicholas Dulvy, co-chair of the IUCN’s Shark Specialist Group, who talked about the threats and extinction risk of sharks, rays and chimaeras. Other relevant lecturers were Sonja Fordham, who talked about the challenges of shark conservation in Europe, and Francesco Ferretti, who described a model representing the long-term effects of human pressure on demersal shark populations in the Adriatic Sea. In general, during the meeting over 34 oral presentations and 25 poster communications took place.

Finally, during the General Assembly the EEA approved four resolutions regarding 1) the enforcement of EU shark finning regulations; 2) the definition of EU stances at Regional Fishery Management Organizations; 3) urging the European Council to set deep-sea shark catches TACs at zero with no by-catch allowance; and 4) urging measures to ensure improved catch monitoring and precautionary catch limits for Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus), and to promote the study and conservation of this species.

Submon is member of the EEA and national representative of Spain since 2009.