Joe Cunningham: “I read in a magazine where sharks had literally been caught, the fin taken off, and then the sharks dumped back into the…”

“I read in a magazine where sharks had literally been caught, the fin taken off, and then the sharks dumped back into the water still alive. I am a sportsman. I love to hunt and fish. But I also like management and preservation, and I do not like horrific practices when it comes to animals. The committee has seen fit to bring first a resolution and now this bill, Mr. Speaker. This legislation before the House today will establish scientifically environmentally sound and responsible standards for all American fisheries in this particular issue. The Shark Finning Prohibition Act has broad bipartisan support. It is strongly supported by Ocean Wildlife Campaign, the coalition includes Center for Marine Conservation, National Audubon Society, National Coalition of Marine Conservation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the World Wildlife Fund. It is also supported by the State of Hawaii and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which had direct interest into this issue; the American Sportfishing Association; Recreational Fishing Alliance; the Sports Fishing Association of California; the Cousteau Society; Western Pacific Fisheries Coalition.”