Episode 7

Shark Trade: Wildlife Crime in the Caribbean with Andrea Crosta, Earth League International

Published on: 30th April, 2025

Charlie drops anchor in Charlotteville, Tobago—one of the Caribbean’s most biodiverse corners. But beneath the surface of this tropical paradise lies a much darker truth. In this episode of Voyage to the Wild, we dive into the hidden world of shark fishing and wildlife crime. Joining us virtually is Andrea Crosta, founder and CEO of Earth League International—an organisation known as the “CIA of wildlife trafficking.” With decades of experience investigating environmental crime, Andrea sheds light on how shark fins from small islands like Tobago can end up in global criminal supply chains.

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This series is hosted by Charlie Young.

Editing and sound design is by Ross-Ramsey Golding.

And our producer is Robert Wallace. 

This series is brought to you by the generous funding of the Ocean Cruising Club and their 2024 Challenge Grant.

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About the Podcast

Voyage to the Wild
Sailing in search of extraordinary wildlife and the remarkable people working to protect it
Following in the footsteps of early naturalists, marine scientist and storyteller Charlie Young takes listeners on a journey to wild waters aboard her boat ‘Feral’ as she embarks on a purpose-driven voyage around the planet to uncover the greatest challenges facing the natural world, and tell its story. Part travelog, part natural history docuseries, Charlie shares live accounts in gripping detail of her adventures as she joins local experts, scientists and rangers in the field to meet weird and wonderful wildlife, and shares untold stories of wildlife crime, conflict and conservation.

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Charlie Young

Charlie is an award-winning marine scientist, presenter and avid sailor whose work has seen her invited to speak at events such as COP26 and the Blue Earth Summit. Fiercely passionate about human impacts on the ocean, Charlie's work has taken her around the globe to research and document threats from plastic pollution to climate change. Now living full-time at sea Charlie dedicates her life afloat to documenting wildlife and investigating environmental threats. Her mission? To get below the surface of the greatest challenges facing the natural world and tell its story.