California Passes Bill to Ban Shark Finning

Environment America

(Sacramento – CA) The Governor announced that he signed into law AB 376.  AB 376 prohibits the possession, sale, or distribution of shark fins in California. 

“Our iconic ocean is one of California’s most treasured assets and sharks uphold its entire ecosystem – with 73 million sharks being killed annually we are thrilled that Governor Brown stood up to protect our ocean’s top predators. ” said Julia Ritchie Ocean Associate for Environment California. “With approximately 85% of dried shark fin imports coming through California this statewide ban on the possession, sale, trade, and distribution of shark fins will surely have a direct impact in protecting these precious creatures,” said Ritchie.

AB 376 was authored by Assemblymember Paul Fong, D- Sunnyvale, and Assemblymember Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, and was sponsored by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Asian Pacific American Ocean Harmony Alliance.  

A strong coalition of diverse organizations and individuals supported the measure and worked tirelessly to help ensure its enactment.  A statewide voter survey sponsored by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and conducted earlier this year by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates showed that 76% of California voters, including 70% of California Chinese American voters, support a ban on the shark fin trade. Three-quarters of the California Legislature voted for the bipartisan measure.

The shark fin trade is lucrative – fins fetch up to $400/pd – 250 times the value of the shark’s body. “The best way to protect the ocean and save the sharks is by reducing the demand for their fins- and California chose today to do exactly that,” said Ritchie.