Why sharks with Ana Lúcia Soares?

Ana Lúcia Furtado Soares is a marine scientist and PhD candidate at LMU Munich, specializing in the research and conservation of sharks and rays. She is the founder and lead of the Angola Elasmo Project, a pioneering initiative addressing the lack of data on elasmobranch populations along the Angolan coast and promoting sustainable fishing practices.Born and raised in a coastal town in Portugal, Lúcia has been fascinated by marine ecosystems since childhood. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Sciences and a Master’s in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, with research experience across Brazil, France, Portugal, and Belgium. Her work focuses on field research, species identification, biological sampling, DNA barcoding, and socio-economic studies to understand the drivers of shark and ray fisheries.

Previously, she served as Education Coordinator at the Elasmo Project in the UAE, where she led awareness and conservation campaigns.

Nowadays, Lúcia collaborates internationally with several NGOs and research institutions, bringing together local knowledge and global expertise to develop evidence-based conservation strategies and environmental education programs.

In Angola, she engages with local communities, students, and fishers, building capacity, conducting workshops, and running public awareness initiatives. Her efforts aim to bridge scientific research with practical conservation, fostering understanding of these endangered species and their critical role in marine ecosystems, reason why she is Representative member of Sharks Educational Institute for Angola.