Illinois Senate Approves Ban on Shark Fins

If enacted, Illinois would become the first state with no coastline to ban the Chinese delicacy.


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As of last week, Illinois is a step closer to banning the sale and possession of shark fins, the Associated Press reports. After passing in both the state Senate and House of Representatives, the bill has been sent to Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to await his final approval. If the governor enacts the legislation, Illinois will become the first landlocked state to ban the controversial cargo, which is responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of sharks each year. Shark fins aren’t harvested in Illinois, but lawmakers hope the ban will deter their sale and consumption in Chicago’s Chinatown district, where shark fins remain a sought-after commodity. California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington have all banned shark fins, and similar legislation is pending in several other states.