The American Elasmobranch Society is a non-profit organization that seeks to advance the scientific study of living and fossil sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras, and the promotion of education, conservation, and wise utilization of natural resources. The Society holds annual meetings and presents research reports of interest to students of elasmobranch biology. Those meetings are held in conjunction with annual meetings of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists each year at rotating North American venues.

The membership of the society consists of members who pay annual dues in one of several membership categories including:

• STANDARD membership: requires nomination by an active, standard member and carries the right to cast one vote in matters of Society business.
• AFFILIATE membership: does not require a nomination and is a non-voting membership.

The pages that comprise the AES web site provide information on the society, document its scientific endeavors, and present information on ongoing research, society initiatives, and general interest items to all readers with an interest in elasmobranchs.