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Washington State shark fin ban: New bill needs your support
Written by Shark Savers   
Friday, 11 February 2011 20:10

Note: This hearing is in the past. No additional testimony is needed at this time.

Earlier this week, the Washington state legislature introduced a bill to ban the shark fin trade. This bill prohibits the possession of trade in shark fins, similar to the groundbreaking Hawaii law. The text of SB 5688 can be seen here.

The legislation is moving with lightning speed. A public hearing is scheduled for this coming Monday, Feb 14, 1:30pm PST in the Natural Committee Resources Hearing Room (Rm 2 J.A. Cherberg Building Olympia, WA). The notice of the agenda may be seen here.

If you live in Washington and can appear in person to provide testimony, please do. No matter where you live, your emailed testimony can make a great difference in encouraging the senators to act in favor of this bill.

If you would be able to go to the hearing to testify in person, this would have the most impact.  If this is possibility, 這個 E-mail 地址已經被防止灌水惡意程式保護，您需要啟用 Java Script 才能觀看 . We'll be happy to help you prepare a statement or even prepare one for you to read.

Written testimony can be sent to the Members of the Natural Resources & Marine Waters Committee. NO additional testimony is necessary at this time.


Please feel free to use all or part of the following letter, modify it or write your own.

Subject: In support SB 5688 Concerning Shark Finning Activities

Honorable members of the Senate,

As a longtime advocate for the health of our oceans and out planet, I respectfully submit this testimony in support of Senate Bill 5688.

Sharks are vital to maintaining balance in our oceans, and the unsustainable trade in shark fins is driving many shark species to the brink of extinction.  Washington now has the opportunity to take a stand against this destruction.

Please vote in support of SB 5688.  The world and future generations will thank you.

Thank you very much for considering my testimony.  I sincerely hope that you will give your full support to Senate Bill 5688.

Best Regards,

If you are a Washington resident, please say so in your letter.

Thank you very much for supporting this important legislation to protect sharks!

Comments (19)
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Christine G said:

...
Thanks, Erik, for the numbers and science on sharks. I incorporated that in my e-mail to the committee- hope you don't mind
Christine
 
February 14, 2011
Votes: +1

Robert H said:

Mr
Thank you for doing this. Too much has been said about the problems that will arise in the oceans ecosystem when sharks become extinct...and not much being done. Shutting down markets for shark fins will reduce the unregulated kills of these apex predators
 
February 13, 2011
Votes: +2

Paula Barrett said:

...
It is time to stop destroying this species. Please listen to the testimony and know what we do today impacts our world forever. Will it be a positive impact?
 
February 13, 2011
Votes: +4

Irena Franchi said:

MS
Please vote in support of SB 5688. The world and future generations will thank you.
 
February 13, 2011
Votes: +2

I Shafeeq said:

Stop Shark Finning
Its high time, shark finning is stopped, before the marine life is destroyed & sharks become extinct.
 
February 13, 2011
Votes: +3

Michelle Brown said:

CMO
would we be ok with having our hands cut off, or our feet, then being tossed back out to figure out how to live without them? Humans need to spread compassion, we have a huge effect on all the other animals that call earth home. Lets do the right thing and ban this for good!
 
February 13, 2011
Votes: +3

BRUMENT SACHA said:

Money will kill the world
Stop Shark Finning
It digusts me how humans think they can kill everything and not care about the species or animals feelings at all, to leave a shark without its fins and throw back in the water is horrible!! what if someone likes human arm soup, cut off arms and dumped us in the water or sand!!!! whats wrong with soviety today!!!!
 
February 13, 2011
Votes: +3

Louise Coy said:

Miss
Many Sharks are now endangered species with a real threat of extinction looming for many if something is not done now. To not ban the trade in these products means that you are supporting the trade in endangered animal products. This is not right. Sharks have been around for millions of years and they deserve to be hear for many more. Do something now whilst you have the chance to change what look like a bleak future for them.
 
February 13, 2011
Votes: +3

Katee Gilmar said:

Turn for the Worse
Life on Earth depends on life in the Ocean. Without sharks, the world will take a dirastic turn for the worse. Because sharks only repurduce once in their life, usually 20+ years after living, it will be very hard to repopulate them... Save them while you still can !!!!
 
February 13, 2011
Votes: +0

Jean morris said:

mrs
Please do everything in your power to stop the barbaric and cruel trade in shark fins. It is totally unnecessary to eat this sort of thing
 
February 13, 2011
Votes: +3

John Fitzgerald said:

Shark Fining
we must eradicate this vile and barbaric trade once and for all
more education and information should be relaid to the countrys that particpate in this the most cruelest of animal trades.
 
February 13, 2011
Votes: +7

Meg Flasco said:

Ms.
Sharks are beautiful and amazing animals that have existed on this planet for 450 million years, and in that time they have evolved into the ocean's supreme predators. In their role as top predator, sharks have played a pivotal role in keeping the marine ecosystem in balance. Without sharks, the oceans will rapidly begin to decline. Whether we believe it or not, the ocean plays a very vital role in the lives of everyone. Why is it that we don't take these issues seriously? We are entering a danger zone if we stand by and allow sharks to be slaughtered needelessly. Shark fin soup is not a necessity, it is a simple luxury for the greedy and well-to-do citizens of this world. Shark finning is both cruel and inhumane and action needs to be taken right now to eliminate it. Please, take a moment to think about this and do the right thing! STOP SHARK FINNING!!
 
February 13, 2011
Votes: +6

NIck Coburn Phillips said:

Marine Scientist & Photographer
DONE. We MUST mitigate for the worst...
 
February 13, 2011
Votes: +2

mike downs said:

mr
Honorable members of the Senate,

As a longtime advocate for the health of our oceans and out planet, I respectfully submit this testimony in support of Senate Bill 5688.

Sharks are vital to maintaining balance in our oceans, and the unsustainable trade in shark fins is driving many shark species to the brink of extinction. Washington now has the opportunity to take a stand against this destruction.
 
February 13, 2011
Votes: +5

Erik Brush said:

marine biologist, shark advocate
I am the author of "The Sixth Extinction" and a shark specialist. The impact of the loss of sharks (currently the most hunted animal group on Earth) is not some distant intangible. There is a rapidly growing crisis that is impacting our planet's atmosphere. There is an immediate and direct impact. Each year 104 million sharks are killed. 78 million of those are killed ONLY for their fins. As shark numbers decline their prey species (smaller fish and crustaceans) consume phytoplankton and algae more and more drastically. 70% of our oxygen comes from our oceans and over 80% of carbon dioxide is controlled in this ecosystem. Each year we are loosing oxygen and gaining carbon dioxide. CO2 is a greenhouse gas super-heating the planet and fueling global warming. And global warming is swiftly threatening the planet with methane related extermination. THE biggest threat beside pollution to our planets survival is shark extermination. If you do not understand it you will not see the ugly truth about our rapidly approaching global issues. Extinction of sharks is also extinction of humanity. Protecting sharks is a must. They are critical to the health of the oceans and the health of the planet.
 
February 13, 2011
Votes: +9

Janice Achimon said:

Mrs.
When the rapidly disappearing vital sharks die, our oceans will die. When our oceans die, we will also cease to exist. The barbaric act of shark finning for a status symbol served in shark fin soup is ludicrous. That these animals are slashed brutally while fully alive & in many cases thrown roughly back into the sea to sink to the bottom and die a miserable death makes me ashamed to be a human being.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Janice Achimon
 
February 12, 2011
Votes: +17

mike downs said:

mr
Honorable members of the Senate,

As a longtime advocate for the health of our oceans and out planet, I respectfully submit this testimony in support of Senate Bill 5688.

Sharks are vital to maintaining balance in our oceans, and the unsustainable trade in shark fins is driving many shark species to the brink of extinction. Washington now has the opportunity to take a stand against this destruction.

Please vote in support of SB 5688. The world and future generations will thank you.

Thank you very much for considering my testimony. I sincerely hope that you will give your full support to Senate Bill 5688.

Best Regards,
Mike D.
 
February 12, 2011
Votes: +2

Carrie Kyle said:

Stop Shark Finning
It digusts me how humans think they can kill everything and not care about the species or animals feelings at all, to leave a shark without its fins and throw back in the water is horrible!! what if someone likes human arm soup, cut off arms and dumped us in the water or sand!!!! whats wrong with soviety today!!!!
 
February 12, 2011
Votes: +7

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