Support the California Assembly Bill 376 to ban shark fin sale in CA.

[lemon]

Support the California Assembly Bill 376 to ban shark fin sale in CA! :: Wetpixel.com

 

[drbill]

Didn't read the article, and I'm wondering if this bill bans just the sale of shark fin or whether it also bans the importation and sale of sharkfin soup. If it accomplishes the first, then I'm all for it; but I'm sure as long as demand is there and the soup itself can be imported, then there is a "loophole." Of course my guess is that the preference is for freshly prepared soup rather than canned or otherwise preserved soup.

 

[Teamcasa]

From AB 376

This bill, except as specified, would make it unlawful for any
person to possess, sell, offer for sale, trade, or distribute a shark
fin, as defined.
<Edited>
c) This section does not apply to any person who holds a license
or permit pursuant to Section 1002 and who possesses a shark fin or
fins consistent with that license or permit.
(d) This section does not apply to any person who holds a license
or permit issued by the department to take or land sharks for
recreational or commercial purposes and who possesses a shark fin or
fins consistent with that license or permit.

 

[JustinW]

Seems like reasonable legislation. It doesn't ban the sale of shark fins when the sharks were used for the rest of their parts but eliminates the legal trade of fins from fisheries that fin and dump a shark back into the ocean alive. Sounds like a good compromise. We help eliminate "finning" but still use every part of sharks that are caught and die as bycatch on longline fisheries such as for tuna and billfish. Would mean that the bycatch would be utilized and not tossed overboard dead. Easy to enforce, practical and should work.

 

[merxlin]

Didn't read the article, and I'm wondering if this bill bans just the sale of shark fin or whether it also bans the importation and sale of sharkfin soup. If it accomplishes the first, then I'm all for it; but I'm sure as long as demand is there and the soup itself can be imported, then there is a "loophole." Of course my guess is that the preference is for freshly prepared soup rather than canned or otherwise preserved soup.

I agree Bill. Nothing better than fresh made chicken noodle. But Campbell's still makes millions a year selling the canned stuff. As long as there is a demand, there will be a supply.

 

[White Knight]

Personally, I hate it when government gets involved an seeks to tell me how to live my life. I had thought that shark finning was illegal? If it is, that is as far as I would go. Reading the proposed to regulation, it would make it very difficult for an honest restaurant to offer the product. Like so many other well meant rules, it would simply cause grief for the honest guy, but affect the criminal in no way whatsoever. Just my two cents. I don't eat the stuff and I do't agree with shark finning.

 

[Peter_C]

SACRAMENTO&#8212;Today (March 22nd), California Shark Protection Act Assembly Bill (AB) 376 by Assemblymember Paul Fong (D-Cupertino) and Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) passed the Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee with a 13-0 vote. AB 376 bans shark finning.

March 22, 2011 - Shark Protection Bill Still Swimming Strong

 

[tac747]

AB376 passed the assembly 65-8 and is now in the senate.
Shark fin ban passes Assembly

 

[drbill]

Let's hope it does as well in the Senate!

White Knight, although I understand your concerns, sometimes government has to get involved in telling individuals what they can or can't do when there is an overwhelming public interest to consider... or ecological one in this case.

 

[Hatul]

The next step is to lobby the California senators to vote for the bill.

Adam