Tell Your Senators to Support the Shark Conservation Act

FROM Animal Welfare Institute

Tell your Senators to Support S. 850, Shark Conservation Act that will strengthen the U.S. ban on shark finning by closing enforcement loopholes and encouraging other countries to adopt similar bans and shark conservation programs.

CONTACT

Find your U.S. Senator here

INFORMATION / TALKING POINTS

In 2000, the U.S. Congress passed a law it believed had banned the practice of shark finning - yet the cruelty continues. During the process, the fins of a living shark are cut off and the animal is thrown back into the water. The shark endures a horrifically slow and painful death, ultimately sinking to the bottom of the ocean to die. The fins are then dried and used in preparing shark fin soup, an Asian "delicacy."

Not only is the practice overtly cruel and wasteful, but it upsets the fragile balance of the marine ecosystem by removing these top predators. Since the original bill's passage, shark finning has been illegal in U.S. waters but enforcement has been hampered by loopholes in the ban.

Thankfully, earlier this year Senator John Kerry (D-MA) introduced the Shark Conservation Act of 2009 (S. 850) to combat the practice. The bill recently moved out of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee by voice vote. The House of Representatives already passed a companion bill in March. The bill now heads to the floor where it awaits consideration by the full Senate.

Please contact your U.S. Senators today and ask them to cosponsor this bill and close the loopholes for good.

Thank you for everything you do for animals!