State Senator Munoz passes measure to ban the sale of shark fins in Illinois

“The shark fin ban is modeled on the same premise used when the United States banned the import of Ivory in 1989. The shark fin trade is facilitating the killing of between 26 million and 73 million sharks every year,” said Senator Munoz. 

 

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Illinois State Senator Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) has passed legislation out of the Senate which will ban the sale of shark fins in Illinois. 

“The shark fin ban is modeled on the same premise used when the United States banned the import of Ivory in 1989,” said Senator Munoz, a member of the Senate Executive Committee.  “The shark fin trade is facilitating the killing of between 26 million and 73 million sharks every year.”

House Bill 4119 will make Illinois the fifth state to ban the possession, sale, trade or distribution of shark fins in the United States.  Currently, Hawaii, California, Oregon and Washington have banned the sale and possession of shark fins.  

According to the National Resources Defense Council, not only is the practice of “finning”– the removal of a shark’s fins, typically while still alive– inhumane, but overfishing of sharks for their fins has become so prevalent that tens of millions of sharks are being killed each year solely for the purpose of their fins.

Senate Snapshot:

What: HB 4119

The Vote: 41-13-0

Lead Senate Sponsor: Senator Tony Munoz (D-Chicago)

Next: Goes to the Governor for his consideration