The Senate s action today leaves the President s signature as the only step to stopping the wasteful practice of shark finning, the act of slicing off a shark s fin and discarding the carcass in the ocean, once and for all, said Cunningham.
Sharks are among the most biologically vulnerable species in the ocean.
Their slow growth, late maturity, and small number of offspring leave them exceptionally vulnerable to overfishing. They are slow to recover from practices that contribute to their depletion. At the same time, sharks, as top predators, are essential to maintaining the balance of life in the sea. H.R. 5461 directs the Secretary of State and Secretary of Commerce to work together to stop the global shark fin trade. This requires the active engagement of more than 100 countries to reduce the demand for shark fins and other shark products.