I am writing in support of Senate 850, "A bill to amend the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to improve the conservation of sharks." This act has already passed the House as H.R.81.
This act closes a loophole that allows illegally obtained shark fins to be transferred to another vessel while at sea, and landed for sale.
As top predators, sharks are vital to the health of the ocean environment. Over 100 million sharks are killed each year as by-catch. Sharks are slow to reproduce, and so the pressure of this accidental catch may be removing sharks faster than they can be replaced. The shark-fin fishery creates more pressure by specifically targeting sharks.
As a senator from California, I'm sure you are aware of the importance of the ocean environment to the world's ecology, and so I am asking you to indicate this by becoming a co-sponsor of the bill, and as a member of the subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard, do what you can to expedite action on this bill.
Thank you,