Progress! California Assembly Passes Shark Fin Ban

by Sarah Parsons · 2011-05-24 14:31:00 UTC
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Struggling sharks may finally be swimming towards some safer waters. Yesterday, the California State Assembly passed AB 376 with a final vote of 65-8. The bill — which bans the purchase, sale, and possession of shark fins — is now heading for a vote in the Senate this June.

The Assembly approval of AB 376 is a huge coup for sustainable foodies and environmentalists — the bill was controversial, to say the least. Many notable people — including San Francisco mayor Ed Lee and Assemblyman Leland Yee — criticized the legislation, saying that it infringed on the culture of Chinese Americans. Shark fin soup is Chinese delicacy and status symbol, traditionally served at important events like banquets and weddings.

But many other folks — including a significant portion of California's Asian American community — supported the bill. The Asian Pacific American (APA) Ocean Harmony Alliance, for example, started a petition on Change.org urging lawmakers to vote in favor of the proposed shark fin ban. The APA Ocean Harmony Alliance is coalition made up of Asian American organizations, community leaders, celebrities, and elected officials. Over the past few weeks, more than 14,000 concerned Change.org members have signed the coalition's petition asking California lawmakers to approve AB 376.

California's proposed shark fin ban comes not a moment too soon — sharks' existence is precarious at best. More than 70 million sharks are killed every year through finning, a cruel practice where fishermen cut off sharks' fins and tails and throw the fish back into the water to suffocate or starve to death. Some species of shark have declined by as much as 90 percent in recent years, largely due to finning perpetuated by the growing demand for shark fin soup.

AB 376 may have passed the Assembly vote with flying colors, but there's still more work to be done. The bill will head to the Senate in June, so it's important that we keep up the pressure. If you think oceans need sharks more than people need shark fin soup, sign the APA Alliance's petition asking California lawmakers to support AB 376.

Photo credit: jmurawski via Flickr

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

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