综合一区欧美国产,99国产麻豆免费精品,九九精品黄色录像,亚洲激情青青草,久久亚洲熟妇熟,中文字幕av在线播放,国产一区二区卡,九九久久国产精品,久久精品视频免费

California legislature approves shark fin ban

Updated: 2011-09-07 22:37

(Agencies)

  Comments() Print Mail Large Medium  Small 分享按鈕 0

SACRAMENTO - Shark fin soup would be off the menu in California, under a bill headed for the governor's desk following its approval by the state Senate on Tuesday.

The measure, which gained final passage on a bipartisan 25-9 vote, would ban the sale, purchase or possession in California of the ocean-going predator's fins, which are the chief ingredient in a soup dish that has long been part of Chinese culture.

The bill, approved by the state Assembly earlier this year, would take effect on Jan. 1, 2013.

Bill supporters, including environmental groups, actor Leonardo DiCaprio and several celebrity Asian chefs, say the ban is needed to protect endangered shark populations from over-fishing. California, with its population of 1.1 million Chinese-Americans, is one of the biggest markets for shark fins outside Asia.

"(This bill) addresses an important environmental threat to our oceans' health," said state Senator Chris Kehoe, a San Diego Democrat who was one of the bill's chief proponents. "It's our market here that drives the slaughter."

But opponents noted that no species of shark is listed as endangered in the Untied States. They said the measure also unfairly singles out a favorite dish of many Chinese-Americans, for whom the pricey delicacy is a customary culinary accompaniment to weddings and other special occasions.

They argue that the bill was inconsistent because it bans shark fins while allowing shark steaks to be sold, as well as apparel and other merchandise made from shark skin, such as boots, bags and belts.

"This bill goes out of its way to be discriminatory," said Senator Ted Lieu, a Democrat who represents the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance.

The lucrative market for shark fin, which can sell for upward of $600 per pound, has increased the practice of "finning," in which fishermen saw off shark fins and leave the maimed ocean predator to bleed to death.

In January, President Barack Obama signed legislation tightening an 11-year-old ban on finning in federal waters.

Authored by Assemblyman Paul Fong, a Democrat born in China, California's proposed ban split the state Legislature's Asian delegation.

Governor Jerry Brown has taken no position on the bill.

The Democratic governor has 12 days from the time it reaches his desk to sign or veto the measure, which automatically becomes law if he fails to act. In that case, California would join Hawaii, Oregon, Washington state and the US territory of Guam in banning shark fin sales.

临海市| 星子县| 呼伦贝尔市| 五河县| 监利县| 台山市| 新安县| 界首市| 阳泉市| 五峰| 西宁市| 会东县| 新安县| 新绛县| 甘洛县| 石楼县| 濮阳县| 柞水县| 无锡市| 大足县| 综艺| 嘉荫县| 广丰县| 洛川县| 遂昌县| 射洪县| 顺平县| 十堰市| 大冶市| 莒南县| 常宁市| 昌都县| 新民市| 黑河市| 辛集市| 玉田县| 民权县| 神木县| 林口县| 沾益县| 五莲县|