Market shark fins (11 photos)

Black market fins - a multi-billion dollar, and one of the most closed and little-known businesses. With a feed, and make a fortune by thousands of people around the world. For example, in Ecuador detain consignments of fins in the amount of 20 thousand units. Pound fins on the target market is from 300 to 500 dollars in 2011. Miners also receive $ 1 per pound, ie less than 1% of the final value. 350 smuggled fins on the street price in 2007 were worth 86,000 dollars. Some whale shark fins were leaving for the price of 15 000 dollars for 1 piece. The growth of China's economy leads to increased demand for shark fin soup from which the banquet is a Chinese symbol of wealth and prestige. 95% of the total caught shark fins is absorbed by China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The market is growing at a rate of 5% per year.