Hawaii becomes the first state to ban the possession and sale of shark fins

[Ed Barrow]

Governor Lingle has signed the shark fin bill into law. When the bill takes effect July 1st, 2010, Hawaii will become the first state in the nation to have a law that prohibits the possession and sale of shark fins.

Hawaii had become a distribution point for shark fins because of our location in the Pacific, and that's one of the reasons why supporters say it's so important to have the ban. But the new law also means -- no more shark fin soup.

Senator Clayton Hee introduced the bill.

"I couldn't be happier for several reasons. Hawaiians have been silent for very long understanding their aumakua has been in soup but more importantly for the sustainability of the ocean globally," said Hee.

"And there's a bill in Congress that's stuck in the Senate so maybe with the Governor signing the bill it'll send the message to Washington to follow the lead of Hawaii," said Hee.


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