U.S. Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX), the Republican leader of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, on Jan. 23 introduced the Shark Fins Sales Elimination Act.
H.R. 737, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, a Democrat representing the Northern Mariana Islands, would ban the buying and selling of shark fins in the United States. Rep. McCaul said H.R. 737 builds upon both existing federal law and state initiatives that prohibit the sale, purchase or possession of shark fins across America and its territories.
“The gruesome shark-finning practices are decimating populations and putting many species on the brink of extinction,” Rep. McCaul said on Wednesday. “This sound bipartisan legislation will promote conservation and responsible fishing practices that are good for the environment and our economy.”
Shark finning – which entails cutting off the fin of a shark and then discarding the maimed animal back to the sea – is now illegal in the United States, according to the congressman, who said the fins are still imported and exported on U.S. soil.
“As the largest economy in the world, how we conduct our commerce has a profound impact on global markets and greatly influences others’ economic behavior,” Rep. McCaul said. “It is long since time we leverage our economic might against shark finning and work to counter the larger issue of animal poaching and the illicit trafficking of animal parts.”
Rep. McCaul is the lead original cosponsor of H.R. 737, which has 68 cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), John Katko (R-NY), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Rodney Davis (R-IL).
“The strong, bipartisan support for this legislation sends a clear message that we have to pay more attention to protecting the Earth’s oceans and the life within those oceans,” said bill sponsor Rep. Sablan. “Banning the sale of shark fins to help end this wasteful and cruel practice is important, but just a small step on the way to giving the oceans the full respect they must have in federal law.”
Organizations including the Humane Society and Oceana already support H.R. 737.
“The Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act would improve enforcement of state fin bans and reinforce the status of the United States as a leader in shark conservation,” said Oceana Campaign Director Whitney Webber. “This bipartisan legislation is a sensible, non-partisan way for the U.S. to lead in shark conservation.”
Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, pointed out that some 73 million sharks are killed each year for their fins.
“Although the U.S. bans the cruel and wasteful practice of shark finning in U.S. waters, our shark fin economy spurs finning elsewhere,” she said, adding that H.R. 737 would end such practices.
The bill has been referred to the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee for consideration.