NCMC Action Item - Shark Conservation Act Introduced in the Senate, S 3231

SHARK CONSERVATION ACT
INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE

Please write to your senators

7/17/08 On July 8th, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Shark Conservation Act (H.R. 5741) to strengthen the U.S. shark finning ban and encourage other countries to implement comparable regulations or face U.S. sanctions.

Before reaching the House floor for a vote, the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans amended the act to require the fins to be naturally attached to any shark landed within the United States and its territories. This is a major victory for sharks because the fins-on requirement would not only help enforcement of the finning ban, it would also assist in the identification of sharks, improving our understanding of shark populations. Special thanks to all of our NCMC members who wrote to their Representatives in support of this important legislation!

Now the bill has moved on to the Senate and must be approved by majority before it can be enacted. The Senate version of the Shark Conservation Act (S. 3231) was introduced by Senator John Kerry (D-MA) after the House vote, and the bill was then referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. We need your help to keep the momentum going! Please take a moment to write to your senators today.

You can find your senators’ contact information on the Senate’s web site, http://www.senate.gov.

Get more background on the Shark Conservation Act.

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear Senator _______________________________,

I am writing to ask your support for the Shark Conservation Act of 2008 (S. 3231), which was introduced by Senator John Kerry. The bill originated in the House of Representatives and was passed by the House on July 8th.

For over 400 years, sharks have been top predators in the ocean food chain, playing a critical role in population control and species diversity. But today, sharks are disappearing at an alarming rate. Shark populations around the world - including many shark species in the waters of the United States - have declined by 80% or more since the 1970s.

Driven by the lucrative shark-fin soup market, the greatest threat facing sharks is a cruel and wasteful practice called finning which involves cutting off the shark’s fins and discarding the mutilated carcass at sea. In 2000 Congress passed the Shark Finning Prohibition Act, setting the stage for international conservation efforts by giving sharks a safe haven from finning in all U.S. waters. However, an unanticipated loophole allows U.S. flagged vessels to skirt these important conservation measures by purchasing fins on the high seas from fishermen engaged in finning. The fins are then brought back to the United States and sold for steep profits.

The Shark Conservation Act closes this loophole. In addition, the Act will promote international shark conservation efforts by allowing sanctions to be imposed on nations that have not implemented shark fishing regulations consistent with those placed on U.S. fishermen.

Most importantly, the Shark Conservation Act strengthens enforcement of the U.S. shark finning ban by requiring all sharks landed within the United States and its territories to have their fins naturally attached. Current law permits fishermen to detach the fins at sea, posing a significant challenge to enforcement authorities.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you about this important issue

Sincerely,

Your Name
Address
City, State, Zip
email address

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