Daniel Fernando

Register for Sharks International 2026 is today! 🦈 Join a global community at #SI2026 in Sri Lanka, 4-8 May! Registration includes access to all sessions, keynotes, sides events, and the welcome reception. Don’t miss out, register now for #SI2026! 🔗si2026.org

📣 DEADLINE EXTENDED ✏️ We've already received great session ideas and keynote nominations! However, due to some requests, we're extending the proposal deadline. 📅 *NEW* Deadline: 25 March 2025 🔗 Click this link to access the submission form: lnkd.in/gWrwTUCc

OPEN CALL for Sharks International 2026 proposals for keynote speakers, themed sessions and panels, workshops, and side events 📢 🦈 Please submit proposals via: forms.gle/9EiKJVncMoa7C9… Deadline: 15th March 2025

Mark your calendars and save the date - we have exciting news! 🗓️ 🦈 The 5th Sharks International conference is set to take place from 4th to 8th May 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Share this news far and wide and follow us for more updates! #sharksinternational2026 #SriLanka

Sharks International 2026, Sri Lanka! Blue Resources Trust is happy to announce that we are hosting Sharks International 2026 in Sri Lanka. We can’t wait for you to see what we have planned for you. @saveourseas @SharkRayFund @NEAQ MCAF

🌊 We're thrilled to welcome @blue_resources as a member of the High Seas Alliance! 🎉 Blue Resources Trust promotes informed science-based decision-making to facilitate the sustainable use of marine resources. Find out more about our 50+ members 👉 highseasalliance.org/members/

It's International Sawfish Day! Sadly this group of fishes are likely extinct in Sri Lanka but hopefully we can learn from this and protect other rhino rays before they vanish too! Read more: instagram.com/p/CyfO9IcBhlC/…

Happy #SharkAwarenessDay 🦈🧬 We're working to improve DNA based detection of rhino rays in Sri Lankan fisheries using hand-held sequencing. #RhinoRay Read more about it here: tinyurl.com/2evzre8s @saveourseas @SharkRayFund @blue_resources @Its_Shaili @IUCNShark

Very pleased to share our new #preprint on global population genomics of manta rays. A massive and ongoing effort from all co-authors and collaborators. 🌊🧬🌊 biorxiv.org/content/10.110…

“We are not putting fish in the ocean & harvesting them. It’s not like chicken farming." @danielfernan7 on risks to manta & devil rays. "We’ve waited so long that they now face imminent collapse. We are going to have to make some very difficult decisions.” theguardian.com/environment/20…

Dozens of Endangered *Devil* Rays caught during annual migration along Gaza coast. Local fisherman says each boat can carry 20-30 rays. "People like them a lot." france24.com/en/live-news/2… For more on this seasonal fishery, see paper by @danielfernan7 et al.: link.springer.com/article/10.100…

Our team has new paper out in Oryx! Please read and share with interested colleagues. cambridge.org/core/journals/…

Great to see the #BluePlanetFund @CefasGovUK @blue_resources @ElasmoProject supporting Sri Lanka to increase understanding around the impact overfishing can have on shark and ray stocks through species identification training, data collection and science-based policy support.

66% of elasmobranchs found in Sri Lanka are @IUCNShark threatened. @CefasGovUK are supporting @blue_resources & @ElasmoProject deliver ID training to fisheries staff from #DFAR #NARA through @DefraGovUK Ocean Country Partnership Programme #BluePlanetFund #UKinSriLanka

New #sharkscience led by @SammSherman27 shows that 59% of sharks and rays that spend some or all of their lives on coral reefs have an elevated risk of extinction. And rays are more threatened than sharks. nature.com/articles/s4146… #sharkconservation @jcu @IUCNShark @OceaniaSharks

For those of you at #CITESCoP19, do check out the software demo at the shark booth! #CITES4Sharks

Following the overwhelming support for #sharks and #rays at #CITESCoP19, there will be an increased need to develop @CITES non-detriment findings (NDFs) to assess sustainability. New tools such as this electronic-NDF software will play a vital role: youtu.be/yMvLpnR1COA

A great side-event tonight to finish an afternoon of sharks! Hosted by @DefraGovUK we saw the diversity of practicals tools that have been developed to support #CITES shark listings. Thanks to presenters, Sarmintohadi @kkpgoid, @ElasmoProject @danielfernan7 & Demian Chapman.

@SharkColin With 2-3 extra days, it would pretty much be guaranteed along with quite a few others 🦚🐒🦌🦜🦩🦋🦔🐃🐍. But of course stay longer and throw in some culture and hill country tea estates 🙂

@danielfernan7 Already looking forward to it and know you and the team will do a fabulous job. Hoping to try and see some 🐆🐘

Excited - and slightly terrified 😀 - but look forward to working with our international team of experts and advisors over the next four years to make SI2026 a success and keep the legacy going!

@Seychellesharks A direct flight with our travel partner, SriLankan Airlines #shamelessplug

@danielfernan7 A location near enough that I can hopefully afford to attend! 😀