Yesterday, the US Senate passed Shark Fins Prohibition Act (S. 1106), a bill prohibiting the purchase and sale of shark fins in United States, as part of a broader legislative package known as U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (P. 1260)… Similar legislation (HR 2811) was represented in the House of Representatives and currently has over 130 bipartisan coauthors.
“This is a great day for sharks and our oceans,” says Whitney Webber, Campaign Director at Oceana said in statement. “We are now one step closer to the official removal of United States from the shark fin trade. “
Webber applauded Senators Corey Booker from New Jersey as well as Shelley Moore Capito for their unwavering leadership of this important legislation, and Senators Maria Cantwell, Roger Wicker, as well as Brian sweet for supporting the bill during the commission’s markup last month.
“The House of Representatives has already shown its support when it passed this bill at the last Congress by a majority vote. 310-107, but now we are turning to them again, ”- said Webber. “The demand for shark fins is shrinking shark populations, and the US must do its part to protect them. The US needs a ban on fins now. ”
BUT study published in Nature earlier this year, it was found that the global population of ocean sharks and rays had declined by more than 70% over the past 50 years, with overfishing as the main reason.
The demand for shark fins is driving overfishing and shark fin fishing, the cruel and wasteful practice of removing shark fins into the sea and throwing its body overboard, where it drowns, starves to death or is eaten alive by other fish. Fins from 73 million sharks end up on the market every year. As soon as rhinoceros as well as elephant populations have declined due to the demand for their horns and fangs, and the shark fin trade threatens the continued survival of many shark populations.
Although shark fins are illegal in US waters, fins can still be bought and sold throughout most of the United States. These fins are often imported from countries that do not provide adequate shark protection.
According to vote released Oceana at the end of last year, almost 9 out of 10 registered American voters oppose the practice of catching shark fin and almost 80% support legislation prohibiting the sale and trade of shark fins throughout the United States.
To date 13 states, more than 45 airlines, 15 large corporations and 22 shipping companies refused to transport or sell shark fins. About 700 enterprises support a national ban on fins.
Sharks are good for the economy too. According to Oceana report, the value of shark diving in Florida in 2016 Nov. was more than 200 times the export value of shark fins to the entire country for the same year. Shark encounters supported by more than 3700 jobs in Florida, with a total economic impact on the state of more than $ 377 million.
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The post is breaking! US Senate passed a ban on the shark fin trade; The next step is to walk past the House of Representatives, which first appeared on World Animal News.