In 2017, leading organizations in science-based shark conservation and stakeholder engagement formed the Shark League coalition.
Science-based protection through international fisheries bodies and treaties.
The Shark League works to ensure vulnerable shark and ray species are managed and protected through strong, coordinated, and enforceable conservation policies across their ranges.
Who we are
The Shark League for the Atlantic and Mediterranean is a coalition of Shark Advocates International, Shark Trust, and Ecology Action Centre.
These organizations - based in the US, UK, and Canada, respectively - bring decades of expertise and success in advocating before government bodies to secure sound shark conservation policies. The coalition is supported and coordinated by Martin Clark Consulting and Communications INC and maintains close collaboration with the PADI AWARE Foundation, another founding member.
The Shark League is focused primarily on securing science-based shark and ray fishing limits through the International Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and ensuring those measures are implemented in key countries. Partner organizations also collaborate to promote sound shark policies through other Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMOs) as well as international wildlife treaties, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
The Shark League’s core work is supported by a grant from the Shark Conservation Fund.
Meet the team
Policy Advocacy
Sonja Fordham
Shark Advocates International
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Sonja Fordham
Shark Advocates International
Sonja Fordham is the founder and president of Washington, DC-based Shark Advocates International, a nonprofit project of The Ocean Foundation. Through this and past positions with the Shark Alliance and Ocean Conservancy, she has three decades of experience in advocating for science-based policies for sharks and rays. She has been at the forefront of many landmark elasmobranch conservation actions, including protections under regional fisheries bodies and listings under CITES. She is a former deputy chair of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group and current chair of the American Elasmobranch Society Conservation Committee. Sonja serves on various U.S. advisory panels relevant to shark and ray fishing restrictions, including the U.S. ICCAT Advisory Committee, and has authored numerous publications on elasmobranch conservation.
Policy Advocacy
Ali Hood
The Shark Trust
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Ali Hood
The Shark Trust
Ali Hood is the Director of Conservation for the Shark Trust, a UK-based conservation charity representing members in more than 40 countries. She has led the Shark Trust conservation programme over the past two decades, with a focus on shark and ray policy concerns in the UK as well as the European Union and its Member States. Ali advises the UK government with respect to Regional Fishery Management Organization negotiations and domestic policy. She has a long history of participating as an invited member of several expert working groups at UK and EU levels, and regularly engages with the European Commission and the UK Devolved Administrations with respect to key fishing and trade decisions. She is the past president of the European Elasmobranch Association and currently serves as the society’s Secretary.
Policy Advocacy
Shannon Arnold
Ecology Action Centre
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Shannon Arnold
Ecology Action Centre
Shannon Arnold is the Associate Director for Marine Programs at the Ecology Action Centre, a member-based environmental charity based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Shannon has 15 years of experience advocating for improved fisheries management and opportunities for sustainable ocean livelihoods in Canada and Asia. She leads research on elasmobranch fishing and trade measure enforcement while supporting community-led management and bycatch reduction. Shannon advises the Canadian government with respect to Regional Fishery Management Organization negotiations as well as through numerous domestic fisheries management committees. She has been participating in ICCAT meetings since 2010.
Coordination & Strategy
Martin Clark
The Advocacy Hub
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Martin Clark
The Advocacy Hub
Martin is an international advocacy manager who, after senior roles in international NGOs, now works with organisations on strategy development, coalition building, delivery and evaluation. He has worked with coalition members for many years, initially through the EU Shark Alliance and later CITES and RFMO-focused coalitions. Martin herds the cats – supporting strategy development and facilitating coordination across coalition partners.
Communications
Sophie Hulme
Communications INC
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Sophie Hulme
Communications INC
Sophie has over 25 years’ experience in media and communications consulting for the NGO sector, alongside several years in feature film production. She specialises in strategic advice, campaign management, and business development, with a focus on running effective, results-driven campaigns and seizing key opportunities for Communications INC’s clients. Sophie leads strategic communications for the Shark League, helping to shape and deliver impactful messaging across its advocacy and policy work.
Communications
Domino Albert
Communications INC
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Domino Albert
Communications INC
Domino Albert brings over 25 years of experience in ocean conservation, combining communications and outreach expertise with a deep commitment to shark and ray protection. A qualified scuba diving instructor, she has spent years mobilising the global dive community to take action on marine issues, including shark education, awareness and advocacy. At Communications INC, she leads digital strategy, outreach, and content production for the Shark League, supporting its advocacy and engagement efforts across platforms and audiences.
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Team in action
Coalition partners
