FINNING STRICTLY PROHIBITED
IN CALIFORNIA WATERS
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FINNING DEFINED
Finning is the practice of severing a shark's fins and dumping the carcass into the ocean. The shark is alive when the fins are sliced from the body and is then thrown back into the ocean to die an extremely cruel death at the bottom of the sea. Those that do not bleed to death or get eaten by other ocean predators slowly drown. It may take a total of three hours for a finned shark to expire. At top left is a picture of a Scalloped Hammerhead shark which has been "finned" and dumped back into the ocean to die a cruel death at the bottom of the sea. Also at top right is a picture of shark fins ready for market. To view other graphic pictures of the practice of overfishing, finning and bycatch, go to www.shark.ch/Facts/horror.shtml.
With the fins of an adult shark worth upwards of $1,000.00, shark finning has become an extremely lucrative trade. Even in areas where laws have been enacted prohibiting finning, poachers are weighing the risks against the profits and the sharks are losing. The fin trade is one that rivals even that of the illegal drug trade in its tenacity. Only an infinitesimal fraction of the world's oceans has been protected from finning through legislation. It is essential that many more countries pass laws prohibiting finning in order to ensure that the annihilation of certain shark species is never realized. California has adopted strict laws banning finning and wasteful fishing practices by placing strict laws on the books with harsh penalties for violations.
PROHIBITION OF SALE OF FINS
California Fish and Game Code Section 7704(c) sets forth a specific law prohibiting the possession or sale of shark fins that have been removed from the shark's carcass. Thresher Shark (Alopias vulpinus) tails and fins may be removed but the corresponding carcass must be in the possession of the fishing vessel. This law is explicit in its message and is designed to halt finning in California waters as well as put an end to wasteful fishing practices.
OVERFISHING/WASTE
In addition to providing for the prohibition of finning in California waters,California Fish and Game Code Sections 7704 and 7705 were enacted to halt the overall waste of all fish and to stop overfishing.
