Tuesday, September 6 was a monumental day in shark conservation. The California Senate, on a vote of 25 - 9, passed AB 376 which bans the possession, sale, and trade of shark fins in the State of California. The significance of this legislation will have far reaching positive impacts on shark populations worldwide.

But there is one final step required before this historic legislation becomes reality. The bill is now on the desk of California Governor Jerry Brown awaiting his signature. He has given no indication as to whether he will sign it.

Please let Governor Brown know that you want him to sign AB 376 into law.

While phone calls and e-mails to the Senate were essential in the passage of AB 376, we are recommending that the best way to express your support for the bill to Governor Brown is through a written and signed hard copy letter (that's right folks - snail mail!).

We are providing a form letter, below or by download, that you may print, sign, and send to Governor Brown to express your support for AB 376. If you do not wish to send a hard copy letter, certainly a phone call, FAX, or e-mail are still welcome ways of contacting his office. Should you wish to use one of these alternate methods the Governor's contact information is at the bottom of this notice.

California residents have answered the calls for support of AB 376 in unprecedented numbers. Please take a few minutes to mail Governor Brown, and help us ensure that sharks will remain in our oceans for another 400 million years!

Please do this. Thank you California!!

GOVERNOR BROWN'S CONTACT INFORMATION:
Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 558-3160
To send e-mail Gov. Brown:  http://gov.ca.gov/m_contact.php

A sample letter is below. Copy and paste, DOWNLOAD it as a Microsoft Word .docx file, or choose this option to download in .PDF format.

September 14, 2011

Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Brown,

Please sign Assembly Bill AB 376, recently passed by the Senate, which will ban the possession, sale, and trade of shark fins within the State of California.

I am a California citizen who is concerned about sharks and ocean conservation. AB 376 is a critical piece of legislation to ensure healthy oceans, which California is so dependent upon. I support this bill and ask you to sign the bill into law because:

• The decline of shark populations in our world’s oceans is reaching critical levels, with 1/3 of open ocean species listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List and some populations depleted to less than 10% of their original populations.
• The decimation of shark populations is primarily due to the demand for shark fins used in shark fin soup.
• Sharks are of great importance to the health of the oceans. As apex predators, sharks contribute to species balance and health. Marine biologists have warned that the loss of sharks can lead to increasing decline of life in the oceans, known as ‘trophic cascade’.

I urge you to sign AB 376 to protect sharks and the future of our marine ecosystems. Thank you.

Sincerely,