COARE: news | archives | newsletter: February 2011

Another BANtastic month . . .
Tuesday, 08 March 2011

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Contents:
  - Our World-Underwater
  - Shark Days
  - California fin ban
  - Oregon fin ban
  - Washington fin ban
  - Oregon bag ban
  - More bag news
  - SF Ocean Film Festival
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Hello, fellow ocean lovers!

February was an exciting month for us.  We'd like to
extend a warm welcome to the more than 200 new
subscribers who recently joined our mailing list!

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  - Our World-Underwater
 ---

This was our second year at the Our World-Underwater
Show in Chicago, and it was a wonderful event.  We had a
great time connecting with a number of colleagues there,
and also made some fantastic new connections.  We did
not hold any seminars this year, but will likely make at
least one or two presentations during next year's show.

We were also pleased to unveil some fantastic new
display materials designed by Byron Reaves.  These new
displays not only look great, but because of their
portability, they will allow us to save a great deal on
future shipping costs.  We're thankful for Byron's
contribution, and we also want to give many sincere
thanks to Kelly R., a devoted volunteer who helped staff
the COARE booth throughout the weekend.

 ---
  - Shark Days
 ---

Like last year, the Monterey Bay Aquarium held a special
weekend-long celebration of shark awareness and
conservation called "Shark Days", and they invited us to
participate.

The event's attractions included special shark and
bat ray feedings, behind-the-scenes shark stories
from Aquarium experts, and an appearance by our friend 
Jim Toomey - the artist behind the popular syndicated 
cartoon "Sherman's Lagoon."

Many special thanks to Sara, Danny, and Chris W. - the
volunteers who helped staff our table there, helping us
extend our message to the 12,040 people who attended the 
Aquarium that weekend.

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  - California fin ban
 ---

We're thrilled to announce that on Monday, 14 February, 
California State Assemblymembers Paul Fong (D-Cupertino)
and Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) introduced a bill to
the State Assembly to prohibit the sale, trade,
possession, or distribution of shark fins in California.
California is one of the largest sources of demand for
shark fin outside Asia and is a major entry for shark
fin distribution in the United States.  This bill would
represent a significant step towards reducing pressure
on rapidly declining shark populations.  In addition,
this bill complements recent legislative bans adopted by
both the State of Hawai'i and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands.

COARE was proud to participate in the press event
held at the California Academy of Sciences announcing
this historic legislation, and continues to work in
support of this legislation.

It is early in the legislative process, but it is not
too early to help.  California Senator Leland Yee has
come out in opposition to this bill, claiming it is 
"an attack on Asian culture".  To the contrary, the bill
finds broad support among asian communities and groups, 
and was, in fact, co-authored by a Chinese-American.
The biggest argument against the bill is the alleged
cultural bias, so it's especially important for
Asian-Americans to voice their support of this bill to
let our lawmakers know that the claim of cultural bias
is not a valid one.

Please visit http://www.coare.org/act/ab376/ to see how
you can help.

 ---
  - Oregon fin ban
 ---

Reminiscent of the West Coast Governor's Agreement on
Ocean Health (US Western States of California, Oregon, 
and Washington), signed back in 2006, we're pleased to
report that both Oregon and Washington have introduced
similar legislation to restrict the sale, trade,
distribution, and in some cases, the possession of shark
fins.

Oregon House Bill 2838 was introduced by Representative 
Brad Witt (D-Clatskanie) in January, and was referred to
the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, where
it is being considered further.

 ---
  - Washington fin ban
 ---

On 07 February 2011, Washington State Senate Bill 5688
to ban the sale, purchase, trade, or preparation for
consumption (cooking) of shark fins or shark fin 
derivative products was introduced to the Legislature.  
The Bill was referred to the Natural Resources & Marine 
Waters Committee, where a public hearing was held quickly 
just a week later (the same day that California's 
legislation was introduced - 14 February).

The bill was amended slightly, a week later, to restrict
the scope of the bill to limit only commercial
endeavors.  Although this is a February newsletter, we
can't help but share the good news that just yesterday
(07 March), this Bill passed the Senate by an 
overwhelmingly positive 47-0 vote.  The bill now moves
to the State's House of Representatives for
consideration.

 ---
  - Guam fin ban
 ---

Along with the news of the CNMI (Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands) Fin Ban, we reported last
month that Guam introduced similar legislation in the
form of Bill #44-31, continuing the trend of resource
protection in the Pacific.

That legislation moved through the Guam legislature
quickly, and we're pleased to share that it passed 
unanimously on 24 February 2011.  Guam's governor is
expected to sign the Bill shortly.

 ---
  - Oregon bag ban
 ---

Oregon is now attempting what California failed to do
last year; they are considering a statewide ban on
single-use plastic bags.  If you live in Oregon, please
support SB 536 and visit this action alert site run by 
our colleagues at Surfrider:
     http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3456

If you have friends and family in Oregon, please pass it
on to them as well.
   
 ---
  - Other bag news
 ---

In the meantime, other States such as Maryland, New
York, and Washington have all introduced legislation to
ban plastic bags and/or impose fees on single-use bags.

We reported last month that Marin County in California
was among the counties that joined the wave of
municipalities banning single-use plastic bags.
However, the "Save the Plastic Bag Coalition", has filed
suit against the county claiming that they failed to
produce an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and that 
one should be required according to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  Marin is claiming a
categorical exemption to the CEQA requirements, and
is confident it will prevail.

In other litigious news, our friends at ChicoBag have
been targeted by the plastic industry for their role in
helping support plastic bag bans.  In a classic David
versus Goliath situation, ChicoBag, a small California 
reusable bag maker run by our friend Andy Keller, has 
been sued in South Carolina by HILEX POLY COMPANY, LLC, 
SUPERBAG OPERATING, LTD., and ADVANCE POLYBAG, INC., 
(large plastic bag manufacturers) under a federal 
"false advertising" business statute for statements 
about plastic pollution, and for Andy's involvement in 
banning plastic bags.  Since ChicoBags are sold in 
many states, the corporations chose a state that does 
not provide anti-bullying protection like California's 
anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) 
statutes.  Such lawsuits are generally without merit, 
and are designed to silence, intimidate, or exhaust 
the other party's resources and put them out of 
business.

If you're thinking about getting (or gifting) a new 
reusable bag, consider a ChicoBag, and help support the
good guys.

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  - San Francisco Ocean Film Festival
 ---

Now in its eighth year, the San Francisco Ocean Film
Festival returns to Theater 39 at Pier 39, Adjacent to
the Aquarium of the Bay.

The opening night filmmaker's reception will be held
this Wednesday (09 March), and the regular programs
begin Thursday evening and run through Sunday (10-13
March).

Following the Sharks & Vanishing Marine Life program 
(Program 7, Saturday, 1:00pm), Our Executive Director, 
Christopher Chin, will be hosting and moderating the 
panel discussion, "Sharks, Fins, and Sustainability", 
at 3:15pm in the Farallon Room at the Aquarium of the 
Bay.  The discussion is open to Sharks & Vanishing 
Marine Life film program ticket holders and festival 
pass holders.

To learn more about the San Francisco Ocean Film
Festival and to purchase tickets, visit: 
     http://www.oceanfilmfest.org/films.html


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Wishing you healthy oceans, 
 - Your friends at COARE

==========================

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