Patch Blog: CA Should Ban Shark Fins

This past week the CA Legislature sent Gov. Brown a bill banning the sale, trade or possession of shark fins. The legislation passed 25-9 in the CA State Senate! But two senators claimed that the bill was "racist," because shark fins were used in some Asian cultures as a delicacy.

I'm sorry, I don't care if you consider it a delicacy—capturing sharks, cutting their fins off and dropping them back into the water is cruel and horrid. An estimated 25-73 million innocent sharks are killed each year for their fins ... so sad.

The bill was introduced by Assembly member Paul Fong—and it was supported by my very own Senator from PASADENA Carol Liu!!! She stated that this bill was needed to protect endangered shark species. I'm happy our local representatives are on the right side :)

Shark fins can be sold for $600/lb and even $80 for a bowl of SOUP! Ridiculous I say.

San Diego based Sentaor, Christine Kehoe, carried the bill through Senate. She mentions that California has the second highest demand for shark fins outside of Asia. Kehoe estimates that 85% of dried shark fin imports to the US come through California—making this legislation of uttermost importance with the restriction of shark fin trade throughout the US and abroad.

Celebrities like Bo Derek, Yao Ming, and organizations such as Oceana, Humane Society of the US and the Humane Society International, rejoiced with this victory.

Co-sponsoring the bill was the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Center for the Future of the Oceans. I used to volunteer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium—they have such an amazing impact on the world with their efforts in protecting our oceans and ocean creatures.

Another co-sponsor of the bill was the Asian Pacific American Ocean Harmony Alliance. (Although some Chinese-American Senators felt different about the legislation.) But Chris Chin, an executive director of San Fran-based Center of Oceanic Awareness, Research and Education, wrote in an email that policymakers were targeting a major CAUSE of shark mortality rather than a specific ETHNIC group. I concur, Chris.

Let's hope Gov. Jerry Brown does the right thing.