'We sell it in secret, like drugs': Brazil's appetite for shark meat puts species under threat

Constance Malleret in São Paulo state
Sun 7 July 2024 at 8:00 am GMT-5·7-min read




The bright blue skies and calm waters of the estuary belie rough conditions at sea, and there is no sign of activity among the colourful fishing boats moored around the harbour of Cananéia, a sleepy fishing town 160 miles south of São Paulo.

On the wharf, however, a delivery of frozen fish from Uruguay has just arrived and a few men in white gumboots are busy unloading pallets of beheaded specimens labelled Galeorhinus galeus – school shark.

These thin grey fish will be kept in a cold store on shelves already stacked ceiling-high with carcasses of blue sharks, all awaiting processing and distribution to cities inland.

“Why do we work with shark?” says Helgo Muller, 53, the company manager. “Because people like it; it’s good and cheap protein. It doesn’t give you crazy profits, but it’s decent enough.”

More:
https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/07/venezuela-authorities-investigate-colombia-paramilitary-claims-of-plot-to-destabilize-government/

Bon appétit, dirtbags.