2011 News
Toronto adopts historic shark fin ban
25 October 2011
Toronto, Canada's largest city, enacted a bylaw banning shark fins today. Toronto's City Council today voted 38-4 to back the motion introduced by Councillors Glenn De Baeremaeker and Kristyn Wong-Tam earlier this year, thus prohibiting the sale, possession, and consumption of shark fins in Toronto. As Canada's largest city, and with one of the greatest populations of Chinese-Canadians in the nation, Toronto is one of the top consumers of shark fins in Canada. Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).
Toronto shark fin ban passes key committee
13 October 2011
Today, significant progress was made for shark conservation in Canada's largest city. After lengthy debate, the Toronto City Council's Licensing and Standards Committee voted unanimously to support the proposed ban on the sale, possession, and consumption of shark fins. The measure now goes before the full City Council on 24 October 2011 for approval.
California shark fin ban signed into law
7 October 2011
Governor Jerry Brown Assembly Bill 376 into law this afternoon, making California that largest State in the U.S. to ban shark fins. Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).
Plastic giants drop suit against ChicoBag
13 September 2011
Last week we asked our Facebook fans and Twitter followers, as well as members of our Enough with the Plastic Already! cause to join our petition to implore plastic bag manufacturers to drop their frivolous lawsuit against ChicoBag, a small reusable bag manufacturer in California. We're pleased to report that the lawsuit was dropped, and we thank you all for your help. We reached our goal of more than 25,000 signatures, which Andy Keller, ChicoBag's Founder and President, presented to Hilex Poly yesterday, and it seems to have helped. Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).
California Senate passes historic shark fin ban
6 September 2011
The California State Senate today voted to ban the sale, trade, possession, and distribution of shark fins, with a vote of 25-9. The bill previously passed the State Assembly with a vote of 65-8, and the bill now moves to the governor's desk for further action.Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).
Oregon ban on shark fins signed into law
4 August 2011
Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber today formally signed HB 2838 into law, making Oregon the second state in the continental U.S. to prohibit the sale, trade, and distribution of shark fins. Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).
Supreme Court Upholds Plastic Bag Ban
14 July 2011
California's Highest Court ruled today that the City of Manhattan Beach acted appropriately in its adoption of a ban on single-use plastic bags. Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).
Oregon Lawmakers ban shark fins
2 June 2011
The Oregon State House Legislature today voted to ban the sale, trade, possession, and distribtion of shark fins. The House of Representatives agreed (with a vote of 58-1) to the amendments made by the Senate. Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).
Oregon Senate passes shark fin ban
31 May 2011
Today, the Oregon Senate unanimously (30-0) passed HB2838, the proposed ban of shark fins. The Bill previously passed the House unanimously with a vote of 44-0, but was amended slightly in the Senate. The bill now returns to the Oregon State House of Representatives for concurrence (agreement with the amendments).
Brantford is first Canadian City to ban shark fins
24 May 2011
The City of Brantford (Ontario) today became the first municipality in Canada to ban the sale, trade, distribution, and consumption of shark fins, adopting and by enacting ByLaw 65-2011.
California Assembly passes shark fin ban
23 May 2011
Proposed legislation to ban the sale, possession, and distribution of shark fins statewide was passed (60-8) in the California State Assembly this afternoon. (update: add-on votes later increased the vote tally to 65-8)
Washington ban on shark fins signed into law
12 May 2011
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today signed SB 5688 into law, making Washington the first State in the continental U.S. to prohibit the sale, purchase, or trade of shark fins. Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).
Oregon House bans shark fins
29 April 2011
Proposed legislation to ban the sale, possession, and distribution of shark fins statewide was passed unanimously (44-0) in the Oregon State House of Representatives this morning. The bill now moves to the Oregon State Senate.
Santa Clara County bans the bag!
26 April 2011
One of California's largest counties banned single-use plastic bags today!
View the San José Mercury News article