July 9, 2008
House Passes Shark Finning Ban
Tuesday I watched as the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Shark Conservation Act of 2008. This legislation will require all sharks to be landed with their fins still naturally attached in all U.S. waters. Current laws only require fins and carcasses to be landed in a specific ratio, which does not allow for proper enforcement or data collection.The bill, H.R. 5741, cements the United States’ role as an international leader in shark conservation, and it will allow us to take action against countries whose shark finning restrictions are not at least as strenuous as those here in the states.This is a significant victory, but we’re now looking to the Senate for fast action to enact the Shark Conservation Act of 2008 into law. To learn more about the horrific practice of shark finning and what Oceana is doing to stop it, click here.