The United States is set to finally ban the buying and selling of shark fins after the Senate approved the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act.

Source: Oceana/YouTube

The Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act was added to the annual military policy bill and is now headed for the signature of President Joe Biden. The Act comes after years of hard work from animal activists and organizations such as the Animal Welfare Institute and Oceana.

“Shark finning conjures up cruelty and wanton destruction of the medieval era,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, in a statement. “But it’s more of a modern evil, and the United States has determined this trade is no longer legal in our nation.”

Up to 73 million sharks have their fins cut off annually. To add insult to injury (or, in this case, death), the sharks are occasionally thrown back into the water and, since they can’t swim effectively anymore, sink to the bottom of the ocean to suffocate or bleed to death. This practice was made illegal in the United States in 2000, but individual states can still decide to import sharks who have endured this. 

Check out these 7 Alarming Facts About the Shark Fin Trade!

Related Content:

• Authorities Investigate Florida Companies Involved in Shark Fin Trade
• Nearly 400 Illegal Shark Fins Seized From Texas Seafood Restaurant
• 7 Alarming Facts About the Shark Fin Trade
• European Citizens Demand the End of the Shark Fin Trade
• Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act Passes Senate

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