Good Policy: Protecting Sharks by Confronting Bycatch and Finning
2013 East Coast States Say No to Shark Fins
Maryland, Delaware and New York pass bills to ban the sale, trade, distribution and possession of shark fins throughout their respective states.
Sharks and Rays Species Get Trade Protections
Five species of sharks and two species of manta rays become subject to international trade regulation under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES.
Protections Advance for Great Whites in California
Great white sharks off the California coast were awarded ‘candidacy’ status under the California Endangered Species Act, which means the state will consider an array of possible management measures that can be put into place to reduce bycatch of whites.
2012 E.U. Bans Shark Finning
The European Parliament approved a strict ban on shark finning, closing a crucial loophole in EU law by requiring that all sharks caught in EU waters, and by EU vessels in international waters, be landed with their fins attached.
Illinois Adopts Shark Fin Ban
Illinois became the first inland state, fifth in the U.S., to pass a comprehensive ban against the trade, sale or distribution of shark fins.
Sharks and Rays Gain Protections in the Mediterranean
The EU voted in favor of strictly protecting 10 threatened species of sharks and rays in the Mediterranean Sea, under the Barcelona Convention.
2011 California Bans Trade of Shark Fins
California Governor Jerry Brown signed a law making it illegal to sell, trade, possess, or distribute shark fins in California. With the governor's signature, the law completed a West Coast ban (joining Washington, Oregon and Hawaii).
Chile Bans Shark Finning
The Chilean National Congress unanimously passed a nationwide ban on shark finning.
Bahamas Bans Commercial Fishing of Sharks
The Bahamas banned commercial fishing of sharks, awarding protection to the more than 40 species circling the island chain.
Washington Expands West Coast Ban on Shark Fins
Washington banned the sale, trade and distribution of shark fins, making it the fourth American state or territory to implement policy to outlaw the shark fin trade.
2010 Congress Ends Shark Finning in U.S. Waters
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the Shark Conservation Act, clearing the final hurdle towards ending shark finning in U.S. waters. It allows the U.S. to take action against countries whose shark finning restrictions are not as strenuous.
International Fisheries Commission Move to Protect Sharks
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) increased the number of shark species prohibited for retention in ICCAT fisheries. Specifically, the group improved conservation measures for oceanic whitetip, hammerhead and shortfin mako sharks.
2009 Saving Hammerhead, Thresher, Blue and Shortfin Mako Sharks
The Spanish government committed to advancing shark legislation that would ban the catch of threatened hammerhead and thresher sharks, put in place catch limits for blue and shortfin mako sharks and evaluate the viability of landing sharks “whole” with their fins attached.
2007 Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation Act is reauthorized.
First passed in 1976, the bill required reauthorization in 2006 and its successful passage helped sustain the framework responsible for many shark conservation measures.
2006 Protecting Sharks from Finning in the EU
The EU Parliament rejected a recommendation from its own Fisheries Committee to increase the allowable ratio of shark fins to bodies from 5 percent to 6.5 percent.
2002 Spain Bans Finning at Sea
Spain requires that fins be landed proportional to shark carcasses.
2000 US Bans Finning at Sea
United States passes the Shark Finning Prohibition Act, requiring fins be landed proportional to shark carcasses.
1999 UN Publishes International Plan of Action
United Nations FAO publishes the International Plan of Action for sharks, promoting minimizing discards by retaining carcasses.
1998 Brazil Bans Finning at Sea
Brazil passes a law requiring fins be landed proportional to shark carcasses.
1994 Canada Bans Finning at Sea
Canada passes a law requiring fins be landed proportional to shark carcasses.
For more information on Oceana’s policy work in the US and abroad, please contact Jessica Wiseman, Marketing & Communications Manager, International, at +1.202.467.1934 or
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