Sharks around the planet are under attack. Every year, at least 100 million sharks are killed an unsustainable number. A huge portion of these sharks, over 70 million, are killed for their fins, which are dried and used as the key ingredient in shark fin soup. The soup is popular across parts of Asia, specifically in China, however, it’s also sold and consumed right here in the United States. But now, a bill introduced in Congress seeks to put an end to the U.S. shark fin trade.
The Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act (H.R. 1456), which was introduced by Representative Ed Royce (R-CA), aims to ban the possession, sale, and purchase of shark fins in the United States. Royce’s home state of California banned the shark fin trade in 2011. Yet about 60 tons of shark fins still arrive at the Port of Los Angeles each year, to be sold throughout the country. In introducing the bill, Royce stated:
The United States can set an example for the rest of the world by shutting down its market for shark fins, which are often harvested by leaving these animals to die a slow and painful death at the bottom of the ocean. While California led the way with a state-wide ban, there are still almost 40 states where the purchase of shark fins is legal. The bipartisan Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act is needed to eradicate shark finning for good.
LINK (via: Fusion)
