Grants and Awards

At Sharks International 2026, we are committed to fostering diverse and equitable participation. To support this, we have implemented a staggered and highly subsidised conference fee structure that takes into consideration national and low-income country participants. 

An additional 20% registration discount is also available for national, SAARC, and low-income country participants whose abstracts are accepted (or those confirmed to lead a symposium). See Registration rates for more details.

Small Grants for National, SAARC, and Low-Income Country Students

While our reduced registration fees help make the conference more accessible, we recognise that financial barriers may still exist. As a non-profit event, our ability to provide grants is limited. However, we are offering 100 small awards of USD 50 each to student participants from national, SAARC, and low-income countries. These awards, granted based on abstract merit, will further subsidise your attendance.

Please note: All accepted abstracts (and confirmed symposium leaders) from SAARC and low-income country participants (students and professionals) will receive a 20% registration discount by default. If you are awarded the USD 50 student grant, it will replace the 20% discount rather than be applied in addition to it. All discounts or awards will be reimbursed in cash (LKR), upon request, at the conference itself.

SAARC countries include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Low-income countries are those classified as “low-income” or “lower-middle-income” by the World Bank. View the full list here. 

External Travel Grants

We strongly encourage students and early-career researchers to seek external funding for travel. Many organisations offer conference travel grants, though some may require membership. Below are some potential funding sources: 

• ASFB Student International Travel Scholarship
• FSBI Travel Grants
• SCOR International Travel Grants
• Challenger Society Travel Awards
• Our Shared Ocean Mobility Travel Grants
• Flying Sharks Research Fund
• MDPI Fishes Travel Award

Please note: we do not take responsibility for the accuracy or availability of these funding opportunities. Be sure to check eligibility requirements and application deadlines.

We encourage all eligible participants to apply for grants and awards to make the most of their conference experience.

Student Presentation & Poster Awards

To recognise outstanding student contributions, one prize each will be given for the best oral and best poster presentation. All students presenting at the conference will be automatically considered for these awards.