The EEA was set up in 1996 to coordinate the regional and international activities of its member organisations. Its objectives are:
The EEA seeks to address the following priorities:
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introduce effective management on a regional basis to regulate shark and ray fisheries and ensure their sustainability;
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reduce shark and ray by-catch in other fisheries;
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introduce effective management on a regional basis to regulate shark and ray fisheries and ensure their sustainability;
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reduce shark and ray by-catch in other fisheries;
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improve records of catches, landings and international trade;
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improve research effort on the biology of sharks and rays and the impacts of fisheries;
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improve management of threatened elasmobranch habitats; and
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provide information to the public and decision-makers.
The EEA's scientific network will formulate a scientific policy and draw up specific research priorities within the areas listed above. The EEA plans to develop collaborative research proposals between its member bodies and other organisations for international funding and implementation.
The EEA is run by a Board of Directors (one EEA-delegate from each of its member organisations), which appoints a President, Secretary and other officers. This board meets once a year at the EEA Annual Scientific Meeting to discuss business and policy issues and report back on activities over the previous year.
The EEA holds annual scientific meetings, which are attended by international researchers, non-government organisation (NGO) representatives, students and interested members of the public, offering high profile discussion and a presentation forum in the marine science and conservation context. In recent years both the EEA Board and annual science meeting have been combined and are the highlight of European elasmobranch activities.
