New York State bans possession of shark fins
Starting next year it will be illegal to possess, sell, or distribute shark fins in New York State (with a few exceptions). The prohibition is part of a bill signed by Andrew Cuomo today. [Open Senate] [Cuomo admin]
It's estimated 100 million sharks are killed for their fins each year. Shark fins are in high demand for use in shark fin soup, which is a luxury item in some parts of the world. That demand has resulted in many sharks being de-finned and then thrown back in the ocean to slowly die. As you can imagine, that's a cruel way to meet the end. [Ocean Defense] [Wikipedia] [Wikipedia]
The practice -- called "shark finning" -- had already been illegal in New York. With the ban on possession of fins, the Empire State joins a handful of other states. California's ban just took effect this month -- and faced opposition from some groups there who argue it's discriminatory against Chinese Americans. [CBS San Francisco]
An upcoming federal rule change, though, could pre-empt parts of theses state bans, and Congressional reps from states with bans -- including New York -- are trying to head off the rule change. [AP/Yahoo News]
photo: Shark fins confiscated by the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via NOAA via Wikipedia
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More legislation, more restrictions more fluff when the real issues go unattended: Under Cuomo NY has experienced the demise of 39,453 NY state businesses last year, Cuomo is raiding $1.75 billion from the reserves of the already over budget State Insurance Fund (SIF). Cuomo can not even hold on to his democratic majority which is in the middle of a corruption scandal with “show-me-the-money culture†and “pay-to-play politics†throughout Albany. Cuomo has disenfranchised the Northern and Western part of New York with his SAFE Act. Cuomo is afraid to take a stand and make a decision, either way with respect to Marijuana or fracking. No matter what your position is, Cuomo is leaving New Yorkers with no resolution to these issues or the ability to move forward. New York has the highest taxes in the nation, is the most indebted state, with 33 percent of income dedicated to borrowing. It is ranked as the least "business-friendly" state in the country and if that were not bad enough NY has the distinction of being the least free state in the union and is called the “Nanny State†with politicians legislating what we eat and drink. Municipal governments from Nassau County to Yonkers to Syracuse are teetering. And during Mr. Cuomo’s time in office, unemployment has risen above the national average. 9% of the state’s 2000 population left for another state between 2000 and 2011 — the highest such figure in the nation, see the study by George Mason's independent libertarian-leaning Mercatus Center.
... said Mike RS on Jul 26, 2013 at 11:31 PM | link