Ana Lucia Furtado Soares

Sharks have always fascinated me. Their importance and positive impact on ecosystems is quite misunderstood by the public, which is why most species are endangered.

Do you have any special skills, experiences or expertise?

• I have a Bachelor's degree in marine science and a Master's degree in marine biodiversity and conservation. During my work on shark and ray conservation, I was able to work with several marine conservation foundations, including the Save Our Seas Foundation and the Elasmo Project.
• I am currently a PhD student at Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany, working on a project to study the impact of artisanal fisheries on sharks and rays in Angola, SW Africa. This is a groundbreaking research project, as no data is available yet.
• Born and raised in a Portuguese coastal town, I was lucky enough to be in contact with the sea and fascinated by the marine ecosystem from a very young age. My personal life is very closely linked to the sea, as I love diving, surfing and swimming.

And which is your favourite shark?

Sphyrna lewini (lat.)

Bogenstirn-Hammerhai (dt.)

Scalloped hammerhead (engl.)