Thanks to a groundswell of last-minute support from a grassroots effort by numerous conservation groups and organizations, the shark finning industry in the United States suffered a serious legislative defeat. The Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act, H.R. 737, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in a 310 to 107 vote late Wednesday night. […]
Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act needs final push
The conservation group Fins Attached is urging citizens who want to help end the shark fin trade in America to contact their member of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act. The bill, HR 737, makes it illegal to possess, buy, or sell shark fins or any product containing […]
Trump guts Endangered Species Act, puts protections for sharks in peril
Donald Trump and his administration removed much of the teeth of the Endangered Species Act, restructuring the guidelines that protect many species in danger of becoming extinct, including several species of sharks. The new rules rules would make it easier to remove protections established under the ESA for certain species, raise the bar when it […]
Canada passes Modernized Fishing Act
Sharks conservation efforts in Canada scored a major legislative victory with the passage of Bill C-68, also known as the Modernized Fisheries Act. The legislation includes the banning of shark finning in Canadian waters and prohibits the import and export of shark fins. “Today is a great day for our oceans. The overhauled Fisheries Act has the […]
Shark bite incidents exploited for political gain
A new study by University of Sydney public policy expert Dr Christopher Pepin-Neff found that politicians manipulate shark bites incidents to influence public sentiment and protect their own interests.
Column: Florida’s land-based shark fishing regulations needed, welcomed
I consider myself an avid shark fisherman. I also consider myself a conservationist. These things are not mutually exclusive. I practice catch-and-release with most of the sharks I catch being released with tags. Being a citizen scientist is part of the appeal –along with the adrenaline of course — for catching really big sharks. Unfortunately, […]
FWC approves new land-based shark fishing regulations
New regulations regarding land-based shark fishing put forth by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee were approved during the February meeting in Gainesville. The new rules are intended to increase survival of released sharks, improve information gathering for the fishery and address some of the public safety concerns related to the fishery. The new […]
Proposed law would protect Hawaii’s sharks, rays
Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee Mike Gabbard and Representative Nicole Lowen, Chair of the House Environmental Protection and Energy Committee, have introduced proposed legislation that would offer greater protections to Hawaii’s sharks and rays. Under the proposal, it would be a misdemeanor “to knowingly capture, take, possess, abuse, or entangle any shark […]
Shark fin legislation re-introduced in Congress
After time ran out for a proposed ban on the trade of shark fins during the last session of Congress, Reps. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (I-MP) and Michael McCaul (R-TX) re-introduced the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act for this year’s 116th congressional session. Like it’s predecessor, the proposed legislation would ban the buying and selling of shark […]
Canadian bill to end shark fin trade moves to House
Canada’s Ban on Shark Fin Importation Act, Bill No. S-238, passed through the senate last week and will now move on to the House of Commons for final approval before becoming law. The process of finning is currently illegal in Canadian waters, however, it remains legal to import fins. Bill S-238 seeks to change that. “Shark […]