It’s America’s turn to stop shark finning

Last month, Canada made strides in the conservation sector by becoming the first G-20 country to ban the import and export of shark fins. We commend the Canadian Parliament for passing such a monumental law, but we know that country-level legislation does not happen overnight. Many regional, city and territorial ordinances, resolutions and partial bans helped lead to this outcome, chipping away at opposing forces and building the support over years of efforts.

This is a great stride in the fight to protect sharks, and it turns the baton to us in the United States to ask, “What are we going to do in our country?” It’s important that we don’t lose this momentum.

To provide some background, finning is the process in which the fins of a shark are cut off and the rest of the animal is discarded, most often while the animal is still alive. Sharks cannot swim or float without fins, and most species cannot breathe while stationary, so the shark sinks to the bottom and ultimately dies by bleeding out, being eaten by other fish, or slowly suffocating.

The major driver of shark finning is the high demand for shark fin soup in Asia. However, it’s not just Asia that is to blame. More than 145 nations participate in the trade of shark products, and the United States is one of them.

Currently, the possession, sale and distribution of shark fins is banned in 12 states, including California, Hawaii and New York. That leaves Florida as the biggest hub of shark fin trading in the U.S. today.

Shark Allies is dedicated to the protection and conservation of sharks, and this fall, the organization will continue the fight in the Florida Legislature to end the sale and trade of shark fins in Florida. The public can get involved and show support by signing in support of shark fin legislation

Not only are sharks crucial to the ecosystem and our environment, but they also greatly benefit the economy of Florida. A live shark is worth far more than a dead shark that gets sold for meat or fins. A study from Oceana showed that income from dive tourism and shark encounters in Florida alone can reach over $220 million per year, compared to just $1 million that is brought in from the exports of shark fins from the entire U.S. Furthermore, it is a renewable resource that can continue for many years to come, as long as there is abundant reef and marine life.