OUR STORY
Connecting Asia for Sharks and Rays
The Asian Shark and Ray Alliance, or ASRA, is a regional network dedicated to advancing shark and ray research, conservation, management, and education across Asia.
We bring together researchers, conservation practitioners, students, educators, policymakers, community partners, and other stakeholders who share a common goal: to secure a sustainable future for sharks, rays, and chimaeras across the region.
Asia is home to diverse marine ecosystems, rich cultural relationships with the sea, and many communities whose lives and livelihoods are closely connected to marine resources. It is also a region where shark and ray conservation faces complex challenges, including limited research capacity, uneven access to resources, data gaps, bycatch, trade pressures, habitat degradation, and the need for management approaches that are both scientifically sound and socially responsible.
ASRA was created to help address these challenges by building a more connected, inclusive, and collaborative regional community.
Across Asia, many people are working to better understand and protect sharks and rays. Some are studying deepwater species that are rarely seen alive. Others are working with fishing communities, supporting policy development, documenting trade, building local research capacity, or inspiring the next generation through education and outreach.
Yet despite this growing body of work, many researchers and conservation practitioners in the region continue to face barriers. Access to scientific literature, funding, training, equipment, mentorship, and regional networks can be limited, especially for early-career researchers and practitioners working in countries with fewer formal opportunities in shark and ray science.
ASRA was founded in response to this need.
We believe that shark and ray conservation in Asia must be shaped by the people who live, work, study, and make decisions in the region. This means creating spaces where knowledge can be shared openly, where collaboration is encouraged over competition, and where scientific excellence is matched with respect for culture, livelihoods, and local realities.
Our alliance exists to connect people across borders, disciplines, and experiences — from scientists and students to fishers, community leaders, educators, managers, and policymakers. By working together, we can strengthen the evidence base for conservation, support responsible and sustainable use, and help ensure that sharks and rays are effectively protected in ways that are fair, practical, and locally relevant.
Our Mission
To secure a sustainable future for sharks and rays across Asia by connecting, supporting, empowering, and inspiring the people who study, conserve, and manage them.
Our Vision
We envision a future where sharks and rays across Asia are sustainably managed, responsibly used, and effectively protected in ways that respect the customs, cultures, and livelihoods of Asian peoples.
WHAT WE DO
ASRA works to support the conservation and research of sharks, rays, and chimaeras across Asia through six key areas:
Resource Accessibility
We aim to improve access to scientific literature, datasets, funding opportunities, conservation tools, technology and other resources needed by shark and ray researchers and practitioners in Asia.
Capacity Building
We support workshops, training sessions, mentorship, and professional development opportunities, with particular attention to countries and communities where access to formal training remains limited.
Collaboration and Networking
We create spaces for researchers, conservation practitioners, students, policymakers, community partners, and other stakeholders to connect, share knowledge, and support regional initiatives.
Knowledge Sharing
We encourage the publication, presentation, and wider communication of research findings and knowledge products from across Asia, helping reduce barriers to information sharing.
Education and Outreach
We support culturally appropriate and locally relevant education initiatives that raise awareness about the ecological roles of sharks and rays and their importance to marine ecosystems and ocean peoples.
Policy Support and Advocacy
We help members engage with shark and ray management and conservation policy by promoting evidence-based decisions that protect species and habitats while considering the lives and livelihoods of people who depend on the sea.
Learn more about our values here
Join the Alliance
ASRA is building a regional community for everyone working toward a better future for sharks and rays in Asia.
Whether you are a student, researcher, conservation practitioner, educator, policymaker, communicator, community partner, or supporter, we invite you to be part of this growing alliance.
Together, we can build a more connected, informed, and empowered future for sharks, rays, and the people who share their seas.