Senate Passes Shark Fin Sales Ban
On World Oceans Day (June 8) the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act, which would prohibit the sale, purchase, and possession of shark fins in the United States, passed the Senate as part of the United States Innovation and Competition Act (S 1260). Although shark finning—the act of removing the fins at sea and discarding the body so as to make more room on board for the valuable fins—is illegal in US waters, the United States continues to serve as a transit hub for the sale of shark fins. This bill would end the United States’ role as a major player in this inhumane, global trade that claims the lives of 73 million sharks each year. While the House passed the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act in the 116thCongress, it has not yet acted on that bill this year or on its version of the United States Innovation and Competition Act.
Program Terms: Marine Wildlife
AWI Quarterly Terms: Government/Legal, Quick Read
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