Senate passes shark protection bill

[ProSense]

Source: Washington Post

The Senate passed a landmark shark conservation bill Monday that would close loopholes that had allowed the lucrative shark fin trade to continue operations off the West Coast.

The measure would require any vessel to land sharks with their fins attached prevent non-fishing vessels from transporting fins without their carcasses. The practice of cutting off a shark's fins and dumping its body overboard, which is now banned off the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico but not the Pacific, has expanded worldwide due to rising demand for shark's fin soup in Asia.

"Shark finning has fueled massive population declines and irreversible disruption of our oceans," said Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass), the bill's author, in a statement. "Finally we've come through with a tough approach to tackle this serious threat to our marine life."

To become a law this year, the bill would still need to be passed by the House, which could act as soon as Tuesday. The lower chamber has already passed similar legislation written by Del. Madeline Bordallo (D-Guam), and backers said they hoped the House would act in the scant time it has left.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/20/AR2010122004046.html

[valerief]

1. They're probably not 99er sharks, otherwise they wouldn't care. nt

[Ian David]

2. They should have just attached frickin laser beams to their heads. n/t

[savalez]

5. Sharks with lasers!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh7bYNAHXxw

[tomm2thumbs]

3. I'm sure the hispanic community is feeling good that Republicans voted sharks over them

the GOP is digging their own ditch to drive into again, but it is sad it has to happen on someone's else's future in the short run

[MBS]

4. this is unexpected good news.

I'm really glad that Sen. Kerry kept on this, midst this busy lame duck session.

[Itchinjim]

6. Sharks?! What's next?

Grizzly bears?!!!

[Creative]

7. It sounds more like an anti-pollution bill than a shark protection bill.

[AlinPA]

8. Republicans did not filibuster this? Allowing a left-wing tree hugging wacko environmentalist

do-gooder New York Times reading Starbucks drinking Subaru driving evolution believing liberal bill to go through the senate?

[Merlot]

11. That would be a Saab driver.

otherwise a perfect description...of me ;)

[AlinPA]

15. They hate the Prius too. Damn conservationists.

[Bigmack]

9. Professional courtesy between toothy predator groups...nt

[Mojorabbit]

13. LOL nt

[saigon68]

14. Outstanding comment !!!

[ooglymoogly]

10. Self preservation, I'd guess. nt

[daleo]

12. I assumed this would be about Wall Street bailouts

But it was about the relatively harmless sharks, that live in the ocean.