The seizure over 28 tons of shark finwhich were illegally obtained and intended for export to Asia, where they are very popular, authorities in Brazil yesterday, tuesday,

These 28.7 tons of wings correspond to killing about 10,000 whitetip sharks (Prionace glauca, also known as blue sharks), or snout sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus, also known as mako), notes the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources in a statement, in which it clarifies that these were caught “in several areas off the Brazilian coast ».

“This is probably the largest seizure of a product of this kind in history,” notes Zach Schmitt, one of its heads, in a statement from the agency.

Almost all of these wings were seized by a company in the state of Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil.

The remaining quantity, which another company was preparing to export, was seized at Sao Paulo airport in southeastern Brazil.

Other companies may also be involved in the trafficking, according to Ibama.

The confiscated fins were intended to be illegally exported to Asiawhere this trade, centered in Hong Kong, reaches 465 million euros.

Shark fins can be sold 1,000 euros per kilo in eastern Asia, where they are used in the very famous soups of traditional Chinese cuisine.

In late May, Brazil listed the mako shark as an endangered species.

The initiative follows a historic decision taken in November in Panama at the Conference on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which aims to protect around 50 shark species threatened by the fin trade in Asia.