Hawaii Passes Ban on Possession, Sale or Distribution of Shark Fins

FROM National Humane Education Society (NHES)

Please thank the Governor of Hawaii for signing into law the ban on shark fins in that state.

CONTACT

The Honorable Linda Lingle
Governor
State Capitol
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
phone (808) 586-0034
fax (808) 586-0006

INFORMATION / TALKING POINTS

Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle signed into law SB 2169, a bill prohibiting the possession, sale, or distribution of shark fins effective July 1. State Senator Clayton Hee, who promoted the bill, said, “killing sharks for their fins is like killing elephants for their ivory.”

According to a news story, “sharks are being killed for their fins at the rate of 89 million per year.” Sharks are pulled out of the water and have their fins severed. Their bodies are then thrown back into the sea.

What some call a cultural tradition, the serving of shark fin soup and other supposed delicacies, is depleting sharks worldwide to levels where some may not be able to sustain their populations without intervention.

Thank you for everything you do for animals!