We’re in a new era of shark appreciation - say British and Irish aquariums

Aquariums like SEA LIFE London alongside charities like the Ocean Conservation Trust are working to raise awareness for sharks as part of BIAZA’s Shark Awareness Week.

BIAZA Shark Awareness Week (6-13 July 2026) is a collaboration between aquariums, who are not only flying the flag for shark advocacy, but also holding a bracket vote (with daily rounds, reminiscent of the FIFA World Cup) for fan-favourite aquarium-based sharks or rays.

The nominees include: uShaka the toothy sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus), a popular species at the National Marine Aquarium (home of the Ocean Conservation Trust); Eddie the eagle ray (Myliobatis aquila), the first of his kind to be born in the UK at Deep Sea World; and Sharkira the starry smooth-hound (Mustelus asterias), representing local sharks.

The eight nominees not only demonstrate just how diverse sharks and rays are, but how many of them are critically endangered. Today, over a quarter of the world’s sharks and rays face extinction. Elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) are important for the balance of healthy marine ecosystems, but are slow to mature, so their loss can have extreme knock-on effects in the ocean.

Dr Jo Judge, CEO of BIAZA said; "As well as factors such as overfishing and climate change, the future of sharks is also threatened by misinformation and poor understanding. I’m proud of BIAZA aquariums for demystifying sharks, inspiring an awe in them, and helping visitors understand how their actions can influence the future of sharks and rays."

"The bespoke education aquariums provide is the foundation for a better world for sharks and rays, many of which, like the flapper skate and green sawfish, are critically endangered due to human action."

Chris Brown, Director of Conservation, Welfare and Education at SEA LIFE said; “We are incredibly proud to champion the diverse group of sharks and their relatives, the rays and chimaeras. As I have personally found, the more you learn about them the more fascinated you become!

“A pioneering study at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium demonstrated that people seeing sharks in aquariums actually reduced people’s fear of sharks*. We work on the conservation and research of many British species, including charismatic smalleyed skate (Raja microocellata), smooth-hound shark (Mustelus mustelus) and the stunning undulate skate (Raja undulata).”

Freyja Thomson‑Alberts, Ocean Engagement Manager with Ocean Conservation Trust said “Animals like sharks and rays have been shaping our ocean for hundreds of millions of years, and every species has an important role to play in keeping the global marine ecosystem healthy. But many of these creatures are facing an uncertain future because of human activity. At the Ocean Conservation Trust and the National Marine Aquarium, we see every day how connecting people with these incredible animals can change attitudes and behaviours to make people more ocean-friendly.

“Shark Awareness Week is a brilliant opportunity to celebrate sharks and rays, challenge some of the myths that surround them, and hopefully support more people to play their part in protecting the ocean. Healthy shark populations are an important part of a healthy ocean, and that's something we all rely on."

As well as providing advocacy, outreach and education programmes, BIAZA aquariums also undertake novel research and conservation for sharks such as, developing best practices for non-invasive veterinary treatment and DNA-swabbing.

Many aquarium sharks are also part of conservation breeding programmes, like zebra sharks (Stegostoma tigrinum) which have had a 50-79% decline in their population in the past three generations. Breeding programmes such as these provide insurance and hope for their uncertain futures.

You can find out more about BIAZA Shark Awareness Week and join the vote (with daily rounds starting 6th of July and running until the 12th) here.