Shark Finning Ban Moves to Senate Floor

The bill to ban shark finning got the go-ahead Thursday by the California Senate Appropriations Committee.

Assembly Bill 376, which would block the sale, distribution or possession of shark fins, is sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Fong (D-Cupertino) and Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael).

Passed on a 5-2 vote, the bill moves to the Senate floor where, according to the Los Angeles Times, it is expected to be voted on within a few weeks.

Shark fin soup is considered by the Chinese community to be a delicacy and a symbol of wealth. Some argue that the ban is discriminatory.

State Sen. Leland Yee called the ban drastic and said it was "the latest assault on Asian cultural cuisine."

The Pasadena Star News reported critics such as Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) doubted whether the bill as presented would unfairly target Chinese-Americans while not resulting in any real reduction of worldwide finning.

More on the bill can be found here on Cupertino Patch in Cupertino’s Chinese Community Reacts to Proposed Shark Fin Ban, which ran on Feb. 20.