Hawaii is going to ban "the sale, possession and distribution of" shark fins:
Shark conservation groups are celebrating a small but important triumph after Hawaii on Friday became the first state in the nation to ban the sale, possession and distribution of shark fins.
Gov. Linda Lingle signed into law a bill that will halt the import of shark fins, which are valued as the primary ingredient in soup sold mostly in Asian communities and markets.
It's hoped this will inspire other states and nations to also stop the practice of shark-finning, which entails slicing fins from live sharks and dumping their bodies overboard.
"People from around the world have been following this Hawaii bill every step of the way," said Mary O'Malley of the New York-based conservation group Shark Savers. "The success of the bill has motivated people in Hong Kong, Malaysia, other states in the U.S., Canada and even Ireland to seek shark-fin-ban legislation modeled after the Hawaii bill."
Under provisions of Senate Bill 2169, sponsored by Sen. Clayton Lee, Hawaii restaurants have until July 2011 to stop serving shark-fin soup. Thereafter, those in violation will face fines ranging to $15,000 for a first offense; to $35,000 for a second offense, and to $50,000, plus a year in jail, for a third offense.
I haven't seen anything to indicate that there are foreign "shark finners" who are upset by this, as was the case with the EU ban on seal products. Perhaps the Hawaiian market is too small to worry about. Or perhaps the shark finners are not that well organized.
