European Union of Aquarium Curators

Elasmobranchs Taxon Advisory Group

The Elasmobranch TAG is chaired by Mark de Boer (Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam, the Netherlands). Chris Brown (SEA LIFE) is the co/vice chair.  The goal of the TAG is to create a new platform for collaborative work between institutions that keep elasmobranchs by improving communication, species population management and advance husbandry and skill for rays and shark management in European zoos and aquariums. The management (breeding) programmes are based on individual animals identified and are set in a more traditional European Studbook (ESB) approach.  AZA SAFE Sharks and Rays project has a website where you can collaborate with other partners and send in the numbers of sharks and rays in your collection. 

For questions about sharks please contact Carlos Taura and for questions about rays and skates please contact Rune Kristiansen. 

The Elasmobranch RCP has been published and can be found here.

ESB managed under this TAG are:

1. Etobatus ocellatus (Spotted eagle ray) 
2. Pristis zijsron and Pristis microdon (Sawfish)
3. Neotrygon kuhlii (Blue spotted maskray)
4. Taeniura lymma (Blue spotted stingray)

New style EEPs

1. Stegostoma fasciatum (Zebra shark)
2. Heterodontus francisci (Californian horn shark)
3. Carcharhinus plumbeus (Sandbar shark)
4. Carcharhinus melanopterus (Blacktip reef shark)
5. Pseudoginglymostoma brevicaudatum (Short-tail nurse shark)
6. Raja undulata (Undulate ray)
7. Dipturus batis & Dipturus intermedius (
Common skate and Flapperskate)

The EEP Annual Reports and European Studbooks (ESBS) reports and Monitoring reports are available here.

Elasmobranch Newsletters

2023 #5 Elasmobranch TAG news