LEF is proud to support Sharks International 2026, the world’s leading conference on shark and ray research, which will be hosted in Sri Lanka for the first time. This also marks the first time the conference is being held in Asia, a region home to many of the world’s most threatened elasmobranch species and some of the most complex marine conservation challenges.

Sharks International brings together a global community of scientists, conservation practitioners, educators, policymakers, and advocates to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and shape the future of shark and ray conservation.

As part of our support, LEF is contributing to subsidise 10 registrations for students from SAARC and other low-income countries, along with 10 registrations for national students. These subsidies are intended to make the conference more accessible to early-career researchers and future marine leaders who may otherwise face barriers to participating in global scientific forums.

We believe that conservation must be collaborative, inclusive, and regionally grounded. Supporting student access to Sharks International 2026 is part of our ongoing commitment to elevating South Asian perspectives and building long-term capacity for marine conservation in the region.

Sharks International 2026 will take place from 4-8 May 2026, hosted by Blue Resources Trust, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

Photo credit: Masayuki Agawa / Ocean Image Bank