On September 6, the California Senate passed AB 376 (Fong & Huffman), which would ban the possession, sale, and trade of shark fins in California. The significance of this legislation will have far reaching positive impacts on shark populations worldwide.
On October 7, Governor Brown signed AB 376 into law. Click HERE for more info.
California residents have answered the calls for support of AB 376 in unprecedented numbers to help ensure that sharks will remain in our oceans for another 400 million years!Shark Savers and the Asian Pacific American Ocean Harmony Alliance supported this bill because:
- The decline of shark populations in our world’s oceans is reaching critical levels, with 1/3 of open ocean species listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List and some populations depleted to less than 10% of their original populations.
- The decimation of shark populations is primarily due to the demand for shark fins used in shark fin soup.
- Sharks are of great importance to the health of the oceans. As apex predators, sharks contribute to species balance and health. Marine biologists have warned that the loss of sharks can lead to increasing decline of life in the oceans, known as ‘trophic cascade’.
