Blue Builders Podcast interview with Stefanie Brendl

From the Host, Romain Joly:

For those who know me, my lifelong passion for the ocean and for sharks in particular can sometimes be, let's say... overwhelming😊. So, this conversation with Stefanie Brendl meant a lot to me. Stefanie's incredible journey is behind this episode's weird title. Have a listen to find out why.

In this conversation, she walks us through how Shark Allies pioneered a trade-based approach to shark conservation, starting with the landmark Hawaii shark fin trade ban in 2010 and sparking a global wave of legislation that followed.

We discussed:
✅ What it feels like to be surrounded by tiger sharks in the open ocean
✅ How the image of sharks in the media has evolved, although protection still lags behind
✅ How the Hawaii shark fin trade ban became a blueprint later adopted for ivory and other endangered species products
✅ Why blaming Asian demand is just the tip of the iceberg, with the whole world supplying shark fins and pointing fingers at China
✅ Why the EU still permits shark fin trade in 2026 and supplies 40% of the Asian demand and what Shark Allies do about it