Statewide Shark Fin Ban Goes Into Effect in CA

In 2011, Governor Jerry Brown passed a statute outlawing the possession or selling of shark fin in the state of California, affecting the sale of the popular Chinese dish shark fin soup. According to San Jose Mercury News, the ban went into effect earlier this week, and any restaurant or market that continues to offer shark fin could face fines of up to $1,000 per violation. The bill was sponsored by the Monterey Bay Aquarium with the mission of lowering the demand for shark fins and reducing the market. The news outlet reports that more than one million sharks are hunted each year—often times just for their fins—and notable Asian and Asian-American celebrities have come out in support of the ban, including former NBA star Yao Ming and chef Martin Yan.