In an important step toward an animal rights victory, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act (H.R. 737) last week.
Representatives Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan of the Marianas Islands and Michael McCaul of Texas introduced the bill in January. It amassed 288 cosponsors and passed by a vote of 310-107.
If the act passes through the Senate, it will effectively ban the sale, possession, and purchase of shark fins within the United States. Nearly 200 restaurants throughout the country offer shark fin products, despite prohibitive legislation in several states, according to a database maintained by the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI).
Canada passed a similar ban in June, as the world’s largest shark fin importer outside of Asia. The legislative move speaks volumes about how people around the world are increasingly valuing the welfare of animals over profit and culinary tradition.
Every year, 73 million sharks lose their lives to the global shark fin trade. Fins are often harvested from sharks while they’re still alive, and the helpless animals are tossed back into the ocean to bleed, suffocate, fall victim to a predator, or otherwise suffer and die.
“Sharks have existed for hundreds of millions of years on this planet, and yet these remarkable apex predators now face one of the biggest threats to their survival because of the demand for their fins,” AWI President Cathy Liss remarked in a recent press release.
Twelve states and three U.S. territories have already banned shark fin sales. By enacting this commonsense legislation, Congress would demonstrate an unwillingness to contribute to the threats facing sharks worldwide — a cause that politicians from “both sides of the aisle” have gotten on board with.
Lady Freethinker’s petition to ban the cruel shark fin trade has garnered over 20,000 signatures so far. Add your voice to urge lawmakers to pass this crucial legislation:

About time.
Yes; cruelty needs to STOP!
DOBBIAMO AMARE QUALSIASI ESSERE VIVENTE , AMARLO, PROTEGGERLO E NON FAVORIRE LA SUA ESTINZIONE. LA SUA VITA AIUTA LA TERRA ,IL NOSTRO PIANETA.
NO AL MALTRATO ANIMAL ! BASTA DE BARBIE !!!
Bravo U.S. Senate. 🦈🦈🦈
Please pass this law as soon as possible.
That’s awesome
The Senate is the problem. We can only pray they see sense and compassion for a change.
Brilliant, now step on to the religious slaughter which is equally as disgusting.
aláírom, betiltani
I think it’s important to note that Michael McCaul of Texas is a Republican, so this was a bipartisan bill.
Need stop kill sharks leave alone not need shark sad
CHANGE IS SO NEEDED IN THE WORLD REGARDING THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS> TOUGH LAWS MUST BE PUT INTO PLACE> NO ANIMAL SHOULD EVER BE SUBJECTED TO ANY ABUSE OR CRUELTY BY HUMANS EVER !!!
Hooray! It’s about time. These poor animals are being abused for no reason. They should go to jail.
I would never ride an elephant and contribute to cruelty. It would be hypocritical of me to even think about it.
Tougher laws needed all round where animals are concerned.
Tougher Laws on animal cruelty. Why should an animal /s suffer from abuse. Animals have feelings and must be respected.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND PEOPLE…TO PROFIT BY TORTURING A SHARK FOR HIS FIN IS PURE EVIL.MAN UP AND TAKE YOUR PUNISHMENT JERKS.
Great news for sharks and the health of our oceans but now this law needs to be enforced with all it’s might and any one guilty of shark finning punished to the full extent of the law!
This is disgusting.
The cruelty described in the post beggars belief. Surely we can do better than this?
Unacceptable, inhuman, barbaric behavior.
About time, ALL hunting, all religious slaughter & ANY animal torture & cruelty should be stamped out & any offence should be dealt with firmly.