COARE: news | archives | newsletter: October 2011 (Special Edition)

CA shark fin ban signed into law! . . .
Saturday, 08 October 2011
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Special Edition - Breaking News


Hello, fellow ocean lovers!

Normally, we try to keep our newsletters to a maximum of
one mailing per month.  However, this particular piece
of news is likely of interest to every ocean fan and 
subscriber, and it is definitely cause to celebrate.

Yesterday afternoon, California Governor Jerry Brown
signed Assembly Bill (AB) 376 into law, thus banning the
sale, trade, possession, and distribution of shark fins
in California.

[http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/video/6330133-gov-brown-signs-ban-on-shark-fin-trade/]

California's ban complements bans in place in Hawai'i,
Washington, and Oregon, effectively shutting the west
coast of the United States to fin traders.

It is estimated that the United States is responsible
for 70% of the world's fin imports outside of Asia.  
With a staggering 85% of those U.S.-bound fins passing
through California, AB 376 will have a tremendous
impact on shark conservation.

The world has been watching and waiting.  With similar
efforts underway in parts of Canada, and with a ban 
proposed in China, California's efforts hopefully will 
ripple into many other places.  

AB 376 will go into effect this coming January (2012), 
but restaurateurs and traders have an additional 18
months to dispose of any existing stocks.

COARE has been working on this issue for years, and we
are so grateful to see such positive results.  AB 376
was born of tremendous political courage by authors
Assemblymember Paul Fong and Assemblymember Jared
Huffman, and was guided through a tumultuous political
process these last eight months by a wonderful coalition
of companion organizations and individuals.  Without the
tireless efforts of our colleagues and the unbridled
enthusiasm and passion we all bear for this cause, we
may not have been able to prevail against the hired guns
employed to sway opinion, confuse legislators, and
defeat this bill.

We are eternally grateful to everyone who helped support
this measure - whether you joined us at the capitol,
wrote letters, made phone calls, contributed to our
campaign, or simply told your friends about it, we 
wholeheartedly appreciate your support.  We would not
have been able to make these tremendous strides without
you, and we hope that you will continue to support our
efforts.

Again, many thanks to all who were involved, and
congratulations to everyone - the world is a better
place today.

 [ official press release may be found at http://coare.org/news ]

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Wishing you healthy oceans, 
 - Your friends at COARE

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