In a remarkable show of compassion for the majestic ocean creatures, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation protecting sharks from harmful stainless steel fishing hooks. Recent studies have shown that this kind of hook can stay lodged in sharks for the rest of their lives.
“The dwindling shark population worldwide is attributable to overfishing and harmful stainless-steel hooks that maul these marine creatures or cause them grave internal damage,” State Senator Pete Harckham, the bill’s sponsor, said in a press release. This legislation helps safeguard the sharks in our oceans and contributes to their overall health in their marine environment.
Senate Bill 9341 extends the authority of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) — allowing it to ban stainless steel, offset circle hooks when fishing for sharks. The DEC, a key player in wildlife conservation, will be responsible for enforcing this law. New York joins other states, such as Florida and Texas, in passing legislation to protect sharks from these painful fishing hooks.
A recent eight-year tiger shark study revealed some sharks had up to seven hooks stuck in their mouths or bodies. While corrodible hooks made of carbon or other materials disappeared within two to three years, stainless steel was another story. These hooks stayed in the sharks for seven years and up, which could result in infections, damage to internal organs, difficulty eating, and even death.
The practice of fishing with hooks that lodge in sharks’ mouths or bodies is cruel — and the use of stainless steel has made the method even more brutal.
Scientists say that many more animals than previously thought are sentient beings and fish — like sharks — are included on this list. Sharks feel the same panic, fear, and pain as any other sentient being. They deserve to be protected from unnecessary suffering as much as any other animal.
Lady Freethinker applauds New York legislators for passing this law to better keep sharks safe from harm in their home waters.
