New Laws to Start in California

From Hometown Station AM 1220.....

New legislation in California increases the misdemeanor penalty for animal neglect and makes it a crime to sell a live animal on any street, highway, public right-of-way, parking lot, or carnival. California SB 917

Two new laws in Oregon and California prohibit the possession, sale, trade or distribution of shark fins. The California law specifies that a person must hold a license in order to possess shark fins for scientific purposes. In addition, restaurants may possess and sell shark fins purchased before Jan. 1, 2012, until Jan. 1, 2013. California AB 376.

Huge Numbers of Shark Fins Harvested in Taiwan

A local group claims Taiwan kills up to 3.86 million sharks each year for their fins.

Finless Shark Found in the Phillipines

The shark's fins had been cut and he was still alive when found, but sadly died.

Ironically, this was just after a conference on saving sharks held in the Phillipines.

From Inquirer.net...

Last week, representatives of some 50 countries attended the third meeting of the International Cooperation on Migratory Sharks (SHARKS III) hosted by the Philippines in Manila. Eleven of them signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) pledging to protect the whale sharks.

The participants also agreed to advance the protection of seven shark species that needed protection—the Basking Shark, Great White Shark, Whale Shark, Spiny Dogfish Shark, Porbeagle Shark, and Shortfin and Longfin Mako Sharks.

Shark Blood Sport in Massachusetts

We've pointed out in the past that the cruelest and most bizarre blood sports in the US tend to be in the Southeast. Well, here's one that doesn't fit that mold...it's in MASSACHUSETTS of all places.

Although the Humane Society article I quote is from 2007, the event is alive and well and set for 2008.

Each summer, entrants in the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament hook sharks; bleed, suffocate, or repeatedly gaff them; and string them up on docks in gruesome, sometimes mocking displays—all for prizes and gory glory. In the 2005 tournament, some 240 boats hooked approximately 2,500 sharks and killed 46 sharks in the span of 3 days. In the 2006 tournament, stormy weather provided a partial reprieve; 26 sharks were killed.

Proponents of shark killing tournaments claim that such contests serve science because biologists can study the dead sharks, leading to greater understanding of the animals’ populations. But because shark tournaments target large sharks, studies of the victims of contest kills are highly inaccurate indicators of shark abundance and population dynamics.

The truth is that shark tournaments exist because killing these unparalleled and at-risk animals is "sport" for some and "entertainment" for others.

In 2005 and 2006, ESPN broadcast the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament. Many in the nation, including The Humane Society of the United States, were appalled and called on ESPN to stop aggrandizing the event. The network refused.

Stupid. Who are the real monsters here?

Photo by sgt99999.

Shark-Finning Incident in New Zealand

How awful.

The Conservation Department has condemned the cruel practice of live shark finning after around 30 sand sharks - some still alive - were found dumped in waters off Nelson.

DOC Abel Tasman ranger Stu Houston came across a fishing boat in park waters on Tuesday, which had caught the 1m sand sharks and cut off their fins, throwing the mutilated sharks over the side.

Some were still alive.

It is LEGAL TO CATCH SHARKS FOR THEIR FINS IN NEW ZEALAND {CN emphasis} though under the Animal Welfare Act they must be dead when thrown overboard.

{Ranger Stu Houston} Mr Houston said that if people knew the practice was legal they would be appalled. "Is that what we do in New Zealand?"

Yep, he's right.

Photo by amysahba.