2012 News
Illinois Senate upholds veto of bad bag bill
29 November 2012
Today, the Illinois Senate rejected an attempt to override Governor Pat Quinn's veto of Senate Bill 3442, which would have prohibited cities in Illinois from enacting bans or recycling policy regarding single-use plastic bags.
Read our Blog Post about the issue.
EU Parliament votes to strengthen shark finning regulations
22 November 2012
Today, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly to address loopholes in regulations regarding shark finning. Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).
Governor vetoes bill to prohibit bag bans
25 August 2012
Today, Governor Pat Quinn rejected SB 3442, a bill that would have prevented much of Illinois from instituting bans on single-use plastic bags. Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).
Illinois Shark Fin Ban Signed into Law
01 July 2012
Governor Pat Quinn Signed House Bill 4119 into law this afternoon, making Illinois the first midwest State in the U.S. to ban shark fins. Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).
California approves final piece of MPA network
06 June 2012
The California Fish and Game Commission approved the network of Marine Protected Areas for the North Coast region of the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. With a 3-0 vote, the Commission brought completion to the network of MPAs in California's open coastal waters, from Mexico to the Oregon state line. The network of MPAs is the first in the United States to be designed from the ground up as a science-based network, rather than a patchwork of independent protected areas without specific goals and objectives.
NY shark fin ban passes Senate Committeee
05 June 2012
The New York State Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation voted 13-1 this morning to pass to the full Senate floor S.6431, which proposes to ban the sale, trade, possession, and distribution of shark fins in New York State.
Los Angeles becomes largest city to ban plastic bags
23 May 2012
The Los Angeles City Council voted 13-1 today to ban single-use plastic bags. This measure complements the ban passed by L.A. County in November 2010. Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).
Illinois shark fin bill approved by legislature
15 May 2012
Proposed legislation to ban the sale, trade, posession, and distribution of shark fins statewide (HB 4119) was approved (41-13) by the Illinois State Senate this afternoon. The bill previously passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 81-33, and the bill now moves to the governor's desk for further action. Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).
Illinois shark fin bill passes Senate committee
25 April 2012
Proposed legislation to ban the sale, trade, posession, and distribution of shark fins statewide was approved (7-1) by the Illinois State Senate Environment Committee this afternoon. The bill now moves to the full Senate floor. Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).
Maryland Senate bans shark fins
26 March 2012
Proposed legislation to ban the sale, trade, posession, and distribution of shark fins statewide (SB 465) was passed by the Maryland Senate this afternoon, 42-4. The bill now moves to the Maryland State House of Delegates.
Illinois House bans shark fins
08 March 2012
Proposed legislation to ban the sale, trade, posession, and distribution of shark fins statewide w as passed (81-33) in the Illinois State House of Representatives this afternoon. The bill now moves to the Illinois State Senate. Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).
San Francisco expands bag ban
07 February 2012
San Francisco, which introduced the nation's first ban on single-use plastic bags, now boasts the strongest such ordinance. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today to expand the existing ordinance to include all retailers and food vendors, and to impose a ten cent ($0.10) fee for paper bags. Read the full article >>
View and download the press release (PDF).