US Friends, Let’s Help Sharks Keep Their Fins

Please join with us in opposing a federal move to weaken state laws that protect sharks from being slaughtered for their fins.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is attempting to override state and territorial laws that provide much-needed protections for sharks. California, Delaware, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Maryland, Oregon, Washington state, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands all have enacted laws to ban trade in shark fins.

In a misguided effort, NMFS is implementing the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 to preempt these important state laws. Earthjustice lawyers are helping the conservation community to oppose NMFS, but we need your voice too.

The shark fin trade is a chief cause of the decline in shark populations worldwide. Shark populations around the globe have declined by as much as 90 percent from historic levels. Those declines have become even more rapid as demand for shark fins has increased. Decimating shark populations isn’t just bad for sharks; it’s bad for ocean ecosystems. As top predators, sharks are critical to maintaining healthy ecosystems such as coral reefs.

This is why Congress passed the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 in order to prevent shark finning and restore dwindling shark populations. Regulations by the states and territories to protect sharks are consistent with that intent and not in conflict with federal law.

Please tell NMFS not to undermine state and territorial laws that protect sharks by banning trade in shark fins.

Important Note on Privacy: This is an official government request for public comments. All information submitted with your comment (name, address, etc.) may be placed in the public record for this proceeding. Do NOT submit confidential or sensitive information. To comment anonymously, visit http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=NOAA-NMFS-2012-0092-2066 and enter “N/A” as your name.