8 replies to this topic

[ebonites]

The U.S. Shark Conservation Act of 2009 was finally passed today, Dec. 20, 2010, in the U.S. Senate!

This bill's passage now closes a massive loophole in the Magnuson-Stevens Act concerning shark finning. All vessels in U.S. territorial waters, no matter how they are designated, are now prohibited from transferring shark fins at sea. All sharks must be landed with fins attached.

The Shark Conservation Act will return to the House of Representatives for a final vote to accept the Senate version before it can be signed into law. While a substitute amendment was included by the Senate, no hurdle in the House is anticipated.

A special thanks to all who wrote, faxed, and called their senators to help influence passage of this vital legislation for shark conservation. ~ Edward Dorson


CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS – ENVIRONMENT
Senate Passes Bill to Curb Practice of Shark Finning
By Charlene Carter | Dec. 20, 2010

The Senate on Monday passed legislation aimed at stopping fishermen from removing fins from sharks and discarding the carcasses. The fins are a delicacy in many Asian countries and this harvesting practice has contributed to declines in shark populations.

Passed by unanimous consent, the bill would prohibit ships from having custody, control or possession of shark fins without the corresponding carcass.

"Shark finning has fueled massive population declines and irreversible disruption of our oceans," Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said in a statement. "Finally we've come through with a tough approach to tackle this serious threat to our marine life."

The bill also would allow the Commerce secretary to identify and list nations that have fishing vessels but have not adopted a regulatory program for shark conservation similar to the United States.

The House passed the bill in March 2009.

Under the unanimous consent agreement, the Senate also adopted a substitute amendment by Kerry and Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, that added the text of two other bills that would make corrections and clarifications to fisheries laws.

As amended, the bill also includes provisions from S 2856 that would clarify the status of the U.S.-Canada Transboundary Resources Sharing Understanding and give the National Marine Fisheries Service greater flexibility in the management of groundfish stocks covered by the agreement.

The substitute amendment also added the text of S 2871, which would make technical corrections to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (PL 109-479) and change eligibility requirements for individuals serving as commissioners.

[shawnh]

Great news....a long hard effort but we made it.

[Drew]

This is fantastic great news for conservation but doubly shocked that the Zagroda Bill still hasn't passed!

[DeanB]

Excellent

Dive safe

DeanB

[ebonites]

December 21, 2010

The Shark Conservation Act of 2009 is now officially U.S. law.

The U.S. House of Representatives rapidly passed the Shark Conservation Act today.

[deepsea]

Great news for the end of 2010, conservation achievements are gaining momentum and I hope they continue for 2011.

Happy Holidays

[xariatay]

Recently I posted a discussion on REACH (reaching everyone for active citizenry@ home) - Singapore's former feed-back unit. The title is: All Government Official Functions should NOT serve shark fin soup! REACH Using many of the info that I lifted from Shark Savers Website.
Many of the anti shark-finning groups on FaceBook help garnered 450+ Likes on the page! Now, I am ready to drop my Prime Minister an email, together will the good news from the USA.

Wishing everyone success in everything you undertake.

Edited by xariatay, 22 December 2010 - 09:20 PM.

[scaper]

Congratulations and thanks to all of you who have used your skills and images to raise awareness and move governments to act!

Pat

[adamhanlon]

Hi all,

In one of the first acts coming back from his Hawaiian vacation, President Obama signed the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 into law on Tuesday.

The bill will tighten the ban on shark finning: The practice of catching sharks, removing their fins and dumping them back overboard, in U.S. waters. The new law still excludes the Smooth Dogfish. Finning is actually already illegal under American law, but a few loopholes have allowed the practice to continue in the shadows.

Read more: http://ecocentric.bl.../#ixzz1AGXKyyd2

Adam