If you are already aware of this issue and wish to help, you can support the legislation by clicking HERE
Why is this shark smiling ?
Legislation is currently being filed in Florida to ensure the State will no longer support and participate in the global trade of shark fins, a trade that is devastating shark populations around the world at a rate that is leading to the extinction of many shark species.
The trade continues to thrive despite regulations that prohibit the act of “finning” or requirements to “land sharks whole/fins attached”. Both provisions leave the door wide open to the continued targeting of sharks for their fins, whether they are finned at sea, illegally, or finned after they are landed. Enforcement is complicated and beyond the capacity of most agencies. As long as fins can be freely sold and transported, it is nearly impossible to curb finning and the illegal fin trade.
There is little public outrage because the wholesale slaughter of sharks takes place out of sight. Most citizens are shocked to find out that their own home state enables the trade of fins. And most of them vehemently oppose this and want it stopped. Florida is surrounded by the sea and it’s tourism and fishing economy depends on the ocean. If this bill passes, the State will be a shining example for conservation and protection of sharks, rather than a passive participant in the fin trade.
In an ideal world we would follow sustainable management plans of all fisheries, around the globe. But that is unfortunately an unrealistic dream at this point. Sharks are being taken at a highly unsustainable rate and we must act with measures that are practical and enforceable, such as a prohibition on the sale and trade of shark fins.
Over the past five months, Shark Allies, together with local partners, legal consultants and legislators have been preparing this campaign:
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- Senate Bill 352 Sponsor Senator Gruters (R)
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- House Bill 99 Sponsor Representative Jacobs (D), Co-sponsor Holly Raschein (R)
Why Florida? Since Texas and all the West Coast states have banned the sale and import/export of fins, Florida has become the hub for the trade of fins in the US. More information can be found in this Miami Herald article.
If you would like to submit your own letter of support, please contact Stefanie Brendl via email. (stefanie@sharkallies.come). She will know at any stage of the process which committees and members they should be sent to. This will change throughout the weeks, depending on what committee the bills are heading to. She can also answer any additional questions you might have or work with you if you would like to get more involved in this campaign.
We will keep all supporters update and engaged throughout the process. A concentrated effort is essential to the success of these measures. If the community of supporters pulls together, we could have legislation moving through this session, which is only a few months long. (ends May).
You can also help by spreading the word on social media.
Tag: @SharkAllies #NoFinFL
Websites: SharkAllies.org and NoFinFL.org
To show the legislature how important this issue is, we need YOUR HELP! Please click the LINK to add your name. The point of this is to show that people from all walks of life support sharks; that this is not a fringe cause, but an issue the majority feels strongly about
