ebonites

Guam's Shark Bill Passes

The bill making it illegal to possess or sell shark fins and manta parts in Guam was passed yesterday by unanimous vote.

A hearty thanks to all who wrote to Guam's senators to help influence this bill's passage, with a particular thanks to Tim Rock and Stefanie Brendl for their on-site participation.

Tim Rock summed up the significance of this victory:

"With Palau declaring its waters a shark sanctuary in 2009, Yap having its water a manta ray sanctuary since 2008, Guam and the Nothern Mariana Islands banning fin trade, this creates a huge corridor in the western Pacific stretching 1300+ miles from north to south from Helen Reef in far southern Palau to Farralon de Medina in the northern CNMI and across four countries that now prosecute those involved in the non-sustainable shark fin trade. Hawaii in the east central Pacific, a US state, has the first such law on its books passed last year.

Thus, this is a real regional victory for the western Pacific nations and their marine resources."

The in-depth story on the bill and all necessary contact information to thank Guam's legislators (and to write Guam's governor to insure that the bill is signed into law) can be found on Tim's Guam & Micronesia Dive Travel blog.

A very significant development:

"Whaling: Beginning of the End?"

The future is still murky, but -- for now -- several hundred whales will not be subjected to a terrible fate in the Southern Ocean.

That fact alone is wonderful news.

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.