Blue Resources Trust

We’re proud to be part of the team behind @sharks.international 🦈   Alongside helping organise this global event, our team will also be presenting research throughout the week—highlighting shark and ray conservation, fisheries, and spatial ecology in Sri Lanka.   📍 Swipe to see when and where you can catch our talks and posters
 🤝 Come say hi to us if you’re attending!   #SI2026 #SharksInternational

As #SI2026 comes to a close, sincere thanks to everyone who made the conference possible and meaningful. 🦈 A huge thank you to all participants, keynote speakers, and session chairs for sharing their expertise and helping shape important conversations on shark and ray conservation. Special appreciation to our incredible MC, Anna Oposa, for guiding the program throughout the week. 🎤 📸 A big thanks to the AV team, medical team, photography team, and all behind-the-scenes staff who ensured everything ran smoothly from start to finish. 🧃 We are also grateful to all vendors for their yummy coffees, juices, snacks and other contributions throughout the event. 🙌 A special acknowledgment to our host, Blue Resources Trust, for their leadership, coordination, and commitment in bringing #SI2026 to life in Colombo. This conference would not have been possible without the collective effort of so many dedicated people working together! #SI2026 #SriLanka #SharksInternational2026

One of the biggest takeaways from #SI2026 in Colombo was clear: sharks and rays do not recognise political boundaries - and conservation efforts cannot stop at them either. One of the latest @Mongabay features highlights discussions from the conference around the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, commonly known as the High Seas Treaty, and the growing need for international cooperation, and the challenges migratory sharks and rays face once they move beyond protected national waters. Bringing together scientists, policymakers, conservationists, storytellers, and practitioners from around the world, #SI2026 showcased how global collaboration will be essential to securing a future for these species across the Indian Ocean and beyond. 🔗 Read the full article via the link in our bio 📸 Kogia | Dario Nessi, Sharks International 2026 #SI2026 #SriLanka #SharksInternational2026

Starting off this first share from the conference with a massive thank you (and a lot of group photos). 🤍 About 14 months ago, the opportunity came up to help out with the Media & Comms side for Sharks International 2026, together with Hayley leading BRT comms, and the amazing SI organisers. And over the last few weeks especially, it’s been such a privilege to work more closely with the incredible team from @blueresources and witness just how much dedication, care, and effort went into making this conference happen. Watching how everyone put their ALL into this event, has been a huge takeaway from this 🙌! It feels incredible to look back on what this week represented…over 800 participants from more than 80 countries, with more than 600 presentations and posters shared throughout the conference. It really felt like a celebration of collaboration, research, conservation, and community for sharks, rays, and chimaeras on a global scale. Another special part of this experience was getting to see the Manta Trust family again, while finally meeting and getting to know so many of the incredible affiliate projects and collaborators from around the world. Being able to connect beyond screens and emails, hear everyone’s stories, and learn more about them and their work was such a meaningful highlight of the week. To everyone who attended, supported, presented, volunteered, collaborated, or simply showed up with passion and openness … thank you!! It was such a pleasure meeting so many incredible people, both familiar and new, all bringing your own perspectives, experiences, and important work into the space. And the energy at this conference was honestly something else. The excitement, but also the shared sense of urgency. The openness to learning, collaborating, connecting, and listening to new perspectives… it was all there. Yes, the whole conference is now settling in and feeling all sentimental noww 😄… still feeling inspired, and incredibly grateful to have been a small part of it all. Hoping to share more from this conference very soon 🦈

🎤 600+ Presentations and Posters Shared. Over the course of Sharks International 2026, more than 600 presentations and posters showcased new research, conservation initiatives, emerging technologies, and inspiring stories from across the globe. From fisheries and ecology to trade monitoring, policy, education, and community engagement, the breadth of knowledge shared throughout the week was incredible! A huge thank you to all presenters and poster contributors for sharing your work, sparking discussions, and helping advance the future of shark, ray, and chimaera conservation! 📸 Leila Scheltema #SharksInternational2026 #SI2026

🌍 80+ Countries Represented Sharks International 2026 welcomed participants from more than 80 countries, highlighting the truly global commitment! From local initiatives to international collaborations, this week showcased the diversity of perspectives, experiences, and expertise driving shark, ray and chimaera conservation forward around the world. Thank you to every participant who travelled, presented, shared ideas, and contributed to making this global gathering so meaningful! 📸 Leila Scheltema #SharksInternational2026 #SI2026

🦈 800+ Participants. One Global Community. Sharks International 2026 brought together more than 800 participants from around the world, united by a shared passion for shark, ray, and chimaera conservation. Researchers, students, conservation practitioners, policymakers, educators, and advocates came together to exchange ideas, build collaborations, and inspire action! To everyone who joined us - thank you for making this conference such an energising, supportive, and impactful experience. The conversations and connections formed this week will continue far beyond the conference itself! 📸 Leila Scheltema #SharksInternational2026 #SI2026

Organized by the Sri Lanka🇱🇰 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, in partnership with the High Seas Alliance, Regional Centre for Maritime Studies (RCMS) and Blue Resources Trust (BRT), the recent inter-ministerial workshop set to determine the strategic way forward in implementing the BBNJ Agreement. The session focused on the critical steps of developing domestic legislation, establishing national institutional arrangements, and setting clear priorities by the first BBNJ Conference of the Parties (CoP1). Sri Lanka was among the first 60 countries to ratify the High Seas Treaty, supporting the efforts to bring the Treaty into force. By focusing on domestic efforts now, the nation is preparing to meet its international commitments. A big thank you to all the representatives from attending Ministries, and all the participants for their contributions. #60toGlobal

Side-event: Sharks Know No Boundaries 📅 Tuesday, 5 May ⏰ 1:15 PM-2:15 PM 📍 Sirimavo Expo Centre, Hall A Join our speakers from the Government of Sri Lanka and civil society partners in exploring the future of shark conservation with the new landmark treaty on ocean just entered into force this year — the BBNJ Agreement (also known as the High Seas Treaty).  The BBNJ Agreement provides a legal framework to establish marine protected areas in the high seas.  Criteria for establishment include special importance for the species, including in different life history stages, and the importance of areas for threatened, endangered or declining species, as well as connectivity. This means many  biologically and ecologically important migratory pathways for sharks, marine mammals, and seabirds could qualify. Important Shark and Ray Areas present valuable sources of data to inform future MPA proposals.  Connect experts and explore pathways to maximize opportunities under the BBNJ Agreement to strengthen shark conservation globally. @sharks.international @oceanswellorg @highseasalliance

We’re excited to be part of Sharks International 2026 – the world’s largest conference dedicated to sharks, rays, and chimaeras, held every four years and taking place in Asia for the first time! 🤝 Our core team, along with affiliate project leaders from over 16 global projects, collaborators, PhD students, former Ocean Ambassadors, and more, will be joining the wider community across the event. 🙌 We are also proud to contribute to a programme of 45+ Manta Trust affiliated talks and posters spanning manta ray ecology, fisheries interactions, conservation policy, and cutting-edge research tools. These sessions highlight collaborative science and community-driven approaches to protecting manta and devil rays and wider marine ecosystems. The full programme schedule can be found on @sharks.international 📣 In addition, we will be hosting a workshop and side event, with keynote contributions from our founder Dr. Guy Stevens and Mobula Conservation Project leader Dr. Marta Palacios. 🦈 We’re looking forward to connecting with the global shark and ray community, sharing knowledge, and building meaningful collaborations throughout the conference! #SI2026 #SharksInternational2026 #MantaTrust

Before #SI2026 begins in Colombo, take a moment to read the latest @Mongabay piece on why this conference matters now more than ever. From rising extinction risks to the urgent need for stronger fisheries management and inclusive global collaboration, the article sets the stage for the conversations ahead. As we gather in Sri Lanka, a key hotspot for shark and ray biodiversity, the focus is clear: bridging the gap between science and real-world conservation action. 🔗 Read the full article via the link in our bio #SI2026 #SriLanka #SharksInternational2026

Explore Sri Lanka: Travel Tips from Our Team 🇱🇰 Next up in our Sri Lanka travel series is Gobiraj Ramajeyam, one of BRT’s Senior Researchers, sharing his knowledge of Jaffna in the north of Sri Lanka: “Most of my work with Blue Resources Trust is based in Jaffna, which has given me the opportunity to travel widely across the region and experience it beyond just work. While spending time at fish landing sites and markets, I’ve also explored well-known places like Delft Island, Nainativu, Casuarina Beach and KKS beach. Jaffna’s culture is equally memorable, especially its unique food—fresh seafood, Jaffna crab curry, and traditional dishes that reflect the region’s identity. From busy coastal communities to quiet beaches and historic sites, my time in Jaffna has been a mix of research, travel, and discovering the rich culture of Sri Lanka’s north.” 📸 (1-8) Getty images (9) Kogia | Michele du Plooy #SriLanka #Colombo #Chondrichthyes #SI2026 #SharksInternational #Travel #Tourism