Sign on to US Congress Resolution: End Shark Finning

US Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-16) Buchanan has drafted a Resolution (pasted below) against importation of shark fins and asks that organizations contact his office if they wish their organization to be listed as a supporter. A Resolution is a statement of position. It carries no legal authority, has no force of law, and is simply a letter stating an opinion on a particular subject. All organization wishing to support the Resolution must contact Christina Aiuto, the congressman’s Legislative Assistant, by Tuesday June 25th.

Christina Aiuto

Legislative Assistant / Scheduler

Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-16)

2104 Rayburn HOB

Tel: (202) 225-5015

Fax: (201) 226-0828

eMail: Christina.Aiuto@mail.house.gov

Organizations supporting the resolution as of today are: Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Welfare Institute, British Divers Marine Life Rescue, International Animal Rescue, Humane Society International, Humane Society USA, League of Conservation Voters, Oceana, Ocean Geographic Society, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sandy Hook Sea Life Foundation, Shark Attack Survivors, Shark Conservation Society, SharkProtect, Shark Research Institute, and Wildaid.

Full Text of the Resolution:

113TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION

H. RES. ___

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should ban and prevent the import of shark fins from sharks caught through the practice of finning, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. BUCHANAN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on ________________

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should ban and prevent the import of shark fins from sharks caught through the practice of finning, and for other purposes.

Whereas sharks are a vital part of a healthy ocean;

Whereas as top of the food chain predators, sharks help maintain the balance of marine life in the oceans;

Whereas if sharks populations continue to decline at the current rates, there will be unknown consequences for fish populations, ocean habitats, and the overall health of the ocean;

Whereas approximately 100,000,000 sharks are killed globally each year, and this is contributing to the decline of shark populations around the world and impacting the health of the ocean;

Whereas shark finning, in which sharks are captured, their fins cut off, and their bodies thrown back into the sea, is a wasteful practice that is contributing to the devastation of shark populations worldwide;

Whereas United States fishermen are held to a higher standard and are not operating on a level playing field with foreign, unregulated shark fisheries that are still engaging in shark finning;

Whereas the majority of fisheries around the world are catching sharks without limits;

Whereas the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species estimates that over 30 percent of pelagic (open ocean) sharks are

threatened with extinction; and

Whereas several States and United States territories have recognized the global decline of shark populations and have taken actions to improve conservation of sharks, including restrictions on the sale of and trade in shark fins:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That—

(1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should ban and prevent the importation of shark fins from sharks caught through the practice of finning; and

(2) the House of Representatives

(A) recognizes the threat shark finning poses to sharks; and

(B) condemns the practice worldwide.

All Posts, NewsMarie LevineJune 21, 2013