Baykeeper is joining environmental and conservation groups in supporting California Assembly Bill 376, which would prohibit the possession, sale, trade and distribution of shark fins in the state. Every year, tens of millions of sharks are killed for their fins, often for use in shark fin soup. This unsustainable practice is threatening the survival of shark populations around the world. As predators at or near the top of the marine food chain, sharks help maintain the balance of marine life in coastal and ocean ecosystems.
California is a significant market for shark fins in the United States, and this demand helps drive the practice of shark finning worldwide. While the practice of shark finning is banned in the United States, current laws do not address the import and sale of shark fins from other parts of the world. Banning the sale of shark fins is an important measure for protecting sharks and preserving the health of ocean ecosystems and biodiversity.