We begin this week with reverence for sharks as kin that have inhabited Earth’s waters for 450 million years, an existence that even predates trees. These apex predators embody a deep resilience and commitment to their place in this world, however, like many of the ocean’s inhabitants, sharks cannot handle commercial exploitation at the scale of which global capitalism demands. A demand which is vastly different from subsistence fishing. In conversation with guest Stefanie Brendl, we learn how sharks regulate the ocean’s ecosystem, the ramification of dwindling shark populations, and the many reasons that the market for shark, ray, and skate meat has more than doubled since the early 1990s; ranging from the depletion of other fish stocks to the burgeoning pet food, cosmetic, and wellness industries. 

Additionally, we explore the United State’s complicity as the 7th largest shark-fishing country in the world and the significance of understanding our own Fisheries Act in context to multilateral treaties like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. Closing our conversation, we meditate on the reality that our rapid consumption is totally incompatible with biological paces, sexuality maturity, and gestation periods of most life around us. For example, the Greenland shark, which has the longest known lifespan of all vertebrate species (up to 500 years), does not reach sexual maturity for 90 to 150 years, with a gestation period of 8 to 18 years. Unable to breed sharks in captivity or reintroduce them to replenish their stocks, we must ask ourselves who will pay the price for the damage done to the ocean if we propel sharks into extinction?

Stefanie Brendl is an advocate for sharks and a creative and social entrepreneur that leads campaigns and projects in all corners of this planet. As founder and executive director of Shark Allies and team member of various NGO coalitions, she has dedicated her last two decades to bringing greater protection to sharks. As filmmaker and producer, she also filmed and produced a documentary called Extinction Soup about the perils of shark finning.

♫ The music featured in this episode is “Across the Water” by Bird by Snow, “Stones Rolling Back Into The Ocean” by Handmade Moments, and “This Year Be” by Left Vessel.

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