Is the United States a world leader in shark conservation? You may have thought so, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has proposed a rule that has the potential to overturn the shark protections passed in 12 states and territories.
The Shark Conservation Act of 2010 closed loopholes in the previous U.S. shark finning prohibition law by requiring that sharks be landed at port with their fins naturally attached to their bodies. To further protect sharks, some states and territories passed additional legislation prohibiting the trade in shark fins. Implementing the provisions of the Shark Conservation Act should not be used to overturn state or territorial laws that are more protective than federal law.
The U.S. government should implement the Shark Conservation Act as intended, without undermining state or territorial conservation measures.
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