A bag of dried abalone confiscated from suspected poachers is seen in Cape Town March 13, 2014. Destined for trendy restaurants in Hong Kong and China, abalone - dubbed "white gold" after its pearly flesh - can fetch up to 4,500 rand ($420) a kg on the South African black market, and nearly three times that in Asia, experts say. Also found in abundance in cold waters off New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the west coast of the United States, abalone from South Africa is considered to be among the best. The hunt is driving the species to the edge of extinction, but fears of being caught - either by coastguards or great white sharks - are relegated to the back of poachers' minds by the glittering prizes on offer. Picture taken March 13, 2014. To match Feature SAFRICA-ABALONE/ REUTERS/Mike Hutchings (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: CRIME LAW FOOD SOCIETY BUSINESS)