In collaboration with Humane Society of the U.S.and the Shark Research Institute, we are supporting a shark fin ban: Bill S2057 in New Jersey.
Sign the Petition urging the New Jersey legislature to support S0527 and ban the shark fin trade.
UPDATE: On June 22nd the Texas Governor has signed the Texas shark fin ban into law. On March 16, 2015, The New Jersey Senate passed bill S.2057 to ban the trade, sale and distribution of shark fin products. This is an exciting victory but there is more to do. Please help us keep the pressure on by writing or calling these Senators and Assembly persons:
New Jersey Senators
Lesniak, Raymond J. Primary Sponsor
Bateman, Christopher Primary Sponsor
New Jersey Assemblypersons
Eustace, Tim as Primary Sponsor
Mukherji, Raj as Primary Sponsor
Jasey, Mila M. as Primary Sponsor
Jimenez, Angelica M. as Primary Sponsor
Benson, Daniel R. as Co-Sponsor
Summary of Status of New Jersey (from bill co-sponsor Shark Research Institute)
The Senate bill, S.1764 (Bateman), was referred to the Senate Economic Growth Committee, chaired by Senator Raymond Lesniak who has a history of supporting conservation bills. On May 3, Senator Lesniak submitted an almost identical bill (S.1922) which includes a definition of shark, and both S.1764 and S.1922 are in his committee. The committee will take testimony on the bills at 10:30 am on May 14 in the State House Annex in Trenton. If you are able to attend please let us know. If you have a relationship with any legislators in NJ, please encourage them to sign on as co-sponsors to the sharkfin trade bills. Another identical bill, A.2719 (Wagner), was referred to the Assembly’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Nelson T. Albano, who represents Cape May, a district with a number of commercial fishing interests. The only objections to either the New York or New Jersey bills have come from the spiny dogfish lobby who want be able to sell fins from the small sharks. Unfortunately, dogfish fins cannot be distinguished from fins of endangered species of small sharks. Many species of sharks are on a fast track to extinction. If shark populations are to recover, the market for their fins needs to end.
Join us and our partner organization of Ocean Preservation Society and Racing Extinction in a Pledge to support US Shark Fin Bans