Hidden deep in the ocean lies a secret that glimmers brighter than gold and silver, yet proves deadly. The swim bladder, or fish maw, of the Totoaba fish found in Mexico’s Gulf of California, fetches a staggering price, costing up to $80 per kilogram, ten times the value of caviar and thirty times that of elephant tusks.

Esteemed in Chinese traditional medicine and wedding cuisine, this ‘miracle ingredient’ is believed to strengthen kidneys and enhance skin. However, this luxury comes at a devastating cost, leading to the decline of the Vaquita, a rare marine species now reduced to a mere 10 individuals.

In 2025, US border authorities seized one ton of fish maw, valued at $5 million. Overfished since the 1930s, the Totoaba, which can grow up to two metres long, was declared protected by

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