Auction

An auctioneer stands over a row of dead sharks as preparations for the evening's final auction get underway.

Shark finning is banned in the Emirates, therefore commercial fishing companies are constantly pressured into landing whole sharks, as opposed to the practice of chopping off the fins and throwing the carcass overboard, thus limiting the catch to help prevent overfishing.
Consumption of shark fin soup has risen dramatically in the U.A.E., especially among the country's middle class, with one large fin fetching up to AED 6,000 ($1633.56 - 1556.29 euros).

Despite government imposed regulations, and the continued efforts of a (very) few local conservation groups, shark numbers continue to dwindle at a staggering rate.

Deira Fish Market - Dubai, U.A.E.