The sale, trade, purchase and transportation of shark fins is now banned in Texas, the tenth U.S. state to pass legislation aimed at fighting the global decline of shark species via officially barring the shark fin trade from transpiring within state parameters.
The bill in question, H.B 1579 (Lucio, D-District 38), was signed by state Governor Greg Abbott as of 22 June and marks Texas’ true commitment to shark conservation according to Shark Stewards, a major supporter of the measure.
“This is a another great show of US support for protecting sharks,” said David McGuire, Director of Shark Stewards. “We are showing the world that sharks are important for the health of our ocean, that many species are threatened with extinction by the shark fin trade, and the practice of shark finning must stop.”
Shark fin legislation was first introduced in Texas with the help of Shark Stewards and a grassroots movement in 2013, but the initial measure failed as a result of special interests. The current bill (HB 5179) was reintroduced by HSUS with Oceana and other supporters in 2015, and shares similarities to other shark fin legislation enacted in the following states/territories: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Oregon and Washington, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Lawmakers are pleased and grateful to play a part in banning what many consider an inhumane and illegal practice.
“Gov. Abbott’s signature on this legislation makes Texas a true leader in shark conservation since the Lone Star State is now the first along the Gulf Coast to take meaningful action to protect our sharks,” said Katie Jarl, Texas state director for The Humane Society of the United States. “We are grateful to the overwhelming number of Texas legislators that voted in favor of this bill and for our House champion, Rep. Eddie Lucio III.”
“Shark finning is not only an inhumane and illegal act, but it also puts the sustainability of our marine ecosystem at stake,” added Representative Eddie Lucio III. “This law will prevent profiting from this heinous practice, and I want to thank to members of the legislature and Gov. Abbott for understanding the critical role that sharks place in our ecosystem.”
