CA ban on shark fins signed by Gov. Jerry Brown

http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/10/california-ban-on-shark-fins-signed-by-gov-jerry-brown.html#mi_rss=Capitol%20and%20California

October 7, 2011
California ban on shark fins signed by Gov. Jerry Brown

Gov. Jerry Brown announced today that he has signed legislation banning the possession and sale of shark fins in California.

Assembly Bill 376, by Assemblyman Paul Fong, D-Cupertino, is meant to combat "shark finning," an illegal fishing practice used to procure the main ingredient in shark fin soup.

Brown said in a statement that he signed the bill "in the interest of future generations," noting estimates that shark populations have declined by more than 90 percent.

"The practice of cutting the fins off of living sharks and dumping them back in the ocean is not only cruel, but it harms the health of our oceans," Brown said.

Brown also signed Assembly Bill 853, a companion measure to allow stores to continue selling current stock and exempt sharks legally caught by California fishermen, that was crafted as part of a deal to win the bill's passage.

The shark-fin ban, which was the subject of intense lobbying by environmental and animal-rights groups, attracted high-profile support. Brown mentioned recently that he had received a call from business mogul Richard Branson urging him to sign the bill.

Critics argued that the bill was discriminatory because it targeted a traditional Chinese delicacy and that the ban would would hurt Asian stores and restaurants owners.

Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/10/california-ban-on-shark-fins-signed-by-gov-jerry-brown.html#ixzz1a8NTza1A

Critics argued that the bill was discriminatory because it targeted a traditional Chinese delicacy and that the ban would would hurt Asian stores and restaurants owners.

Are you f***ing kidding me?! So we should sit around and watch tigers, rhinos, and sharks go extinct because they are traditional Chinese delicacies or medicines?

I'd like to slap the shit out of these "critics".

Yeah, culture can be used to defend a number of heinous activities - slavery, foot binding, sexism and racism, bull fighting, whaling, etc.
Culture evolves, period. Besides, finning would have to come to an end once sharks go commercially extinct, so why not end it now?

Whew, thank goodness it appears the "hearting" practice on sharks might still be ok?