California Senate to Vote on Shark Fin Ban as Early as 9/1

by Sarah Parsons · 2011-09-01 14:46:00 UTC
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The California Senate is poised to vote on A.B. 376, the bill to ban the sale of shark fin in the state, as early as today, September 1.

More than 21,000 people have signed an online campaign on Change.org, the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change, urging senators to approve the shark fin ban. With many senators still on the fence about the legislation and lobbyists urging lawmakers to vote against AB 376, activists and environmental organizations are working to quickly rally support for the bill.

The campaign on Change.org was started by Bill Wong, a member of the Asian Pacific American Ocean Harmony Alliance (APA Alliance), a group formed to allow Asian American citizens to voice their support for a ban on the sale of shark fin.

“It is absolutely critical for supporters of AB 376 to call their senator today to urge them to vote yes on the bill,” said Wong. “For a script and a link to a directory of state senators, they can click on http://yesonab376.org.”

Supporters of the legislation say that it’s needed to boost struggling shark populations. More than 73 million sharks are killed every year through finning, resulting in some shark species’ declines of up to 90 percent in recent years. Opponents argue that the bill is an attack on Asian-American culture, where shark fin soup is a traditional dish served at major events like weddings and banquets.

“It’s clear from the popularity of the Asian Pacific American Ocean Harmony Alliance’s petition that many Asian Americans are in favor of a ban on shark fin,” said Sarah Parsons, Senior Organizer at Change.org. “We’re thrilled that our platform has been able to give AB 376’s supporters a prominent voice.”

Senators may vote on AB 376 as early as today, or may wait until Friday, 9/2 or Tuesday, 9/6 to vote. If the bill passes in the Senate, it will move to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk to be signed into law.

If you would like to help push AB 376 forward, sign the APA Alliance's petition urging lawmakers to vote in favor of California's shark fin ban. You can also call your senators and express your support for AB 376.

Sarah Parsons is Change.org's Sustainable Food Editor. Her work has appeared in Popular Science, OnEarth, Audubon and Plenty.

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