California Shark Fin Ban One Signature Away from Becoming Law

The California shark fin ban, AB 376, cleared all of its legislative hurdles, passing in both the House and the Senate. Now the important ocean conservation bill needs just one more thing to become law — Governor Jerry Brown's signature.

Gov. Brown was expected to decide AB 376's fate this week, but the decision was pushed back until October 9, 2011. That gives the opposition more time to pressure the governor into vetoing the shark fin ban, but it also gives us supporters the opportunity to highlight the need for AB 376. You can contact the governor and let him know that California needs a ban on shark fin by signing this petition.

Procuring shark fins involves a cruel process called "finning," where fishermen cut off the fins and tails of live sharks and then throw them back into the ocean to drown or bleed to death. Finning is decimating shark populations, killing nearly 73 million sharks every year and causing declines of 90 percent in some species' populations. The loss of a top predator like sharks wreaks havoc on ocean ecosystems. For that reason, a few states and countries have already enacted legislation banning the sale of shark fins.

While the ban has passed through the State Assembly and Senate and received widespread support from environmental groups, celebrities, and more than 27,000 Change.org members, it is unclear whether Gov. Brown intends to sign the bill into law. He was recently sent upwards of 600 bills and told reporters, "Fasten your seat belt, cause this is going to be a rough ride. They've given me 600 bills and there's not 600 problems that we need those solutions for."

Opponents of the bill like Pius Lee, the co-chairman of the Chinatown Neighborhood Association, are working to make sure Gov. Brown doesn't enact the ban. Lee has asked Willie Brown, the former San Francisco mayor and Assembly speaker, and former state Court of Appeal Justice Harry Low, a legend in the Chinese community, to intervene and speak with the governor directly. They believe the ban unfairly discriminates against the Chinese culture because shark fins are used primarily in shark fin soup, a traditional Chinese dish served at major events like banquets and weddings.

The next week is a crucial time to tell Gov. Brown that he needs to support ocean conservation — not the perpetuation of finning. Help end this destructive practice. Sign the Asian Pacific American Ocean Harmony Alliance's petition and let Gov. Brown know that you support a ban on shark fin in California.

Photo Credit: shho via stock.xchng