A Major Win for Sharks!
The govenor of California signed AB 376 today making it the possession, sale and distribution of imported shark fins in the state illegal. In a statement, Govenor Brown said, "researchers estimate that some shark populations have declined by more than 90 percent, portending grave threats to our environment and commercial fishing. In the interest of future generations, I have signed this bill."
AB 376 is considered a huge victory in shark conservation, as California is a major gateway for the shark fin trade passing through the United States. Under this new legislation, no more shark fins will be moved through the state after January 1st, 2013, and all fins already in the state must be sold off by July 1, 2013
Thank you California!
SeaSave.org - Help End Shark Finning
On August 15th, 2011 the California Senate Appropriations Committee will vote on a critical bill. If this becomes law it will create a ban of all shark fins in California. This will eliminate the demand for fins in the entire state. Since most fins harvested in the Americas pass through California, this law would make the logistics of the finning trade more expensive and less desirable on a global scale.
The need to pass AB 376 and put a stop to finning is not just about stopping the brutal, inhumane finning practice. It is estimated that over 100 million sharks were killed last year. This is not sustainable. Marine ecosystems are out of balance, and the health of our oceans is severely threatened. We need to put a stop to this practice and get our oceans back on a healthy track.
Please join Sea Save in helping gather petition signatures to pass this bill. It takes only a minute!
A win for shark protection proponents
GREAT news today! The government of the Bahamas agreed to pass legislation to prohibit the export of any shark or shark product from the Bahamas. Thanks to the Bahamas National Trust, PEW, Guy Harvey Research Institute, and all those who who supported this project. A special thanks to the local community on Cat Island for joining us at the meeting and signing the petition. It was an honor to be a part of this!
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Epic Diving Joins the Bahamas National Trust
It was an honor for Epic Diving to work with the Bahamas National Trust. We gathered as many Cat Islanders as we could to a town meeting to sign the protect the sharks of the Bahamas petition.
Members of the local community listened in as Shelley filled them in on the crisis sharks are facing around the world.
We had a great turnout and many of the locals were eager to learn more about sharks.
Many people had questions about how important sharks are not only to the marine ecosystem, but also the economic impact of their removal.
We collected a ton of signatures that were turned into Parliament in support of legislation that would ban the sale and exportation of any shark or shark product within the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
Showing support for the sharks
Locals watch a brief film showing a different side of sharks
