Shark finning banned - in Hawaii

HAWAII -- Shark finning has become illegal in the Hawaiian islands, thanks to a new bill passed by Gov. Benjamin Cayento. According to Cayento, more than 60,000 sharks are killed in Pacific waters each year because of their fins.

The practice of shark finning involves slicing off a shark's fin and throwing the rest of the animal overboard to die. Shark fins comprise only 1 to 5 percent of the shark's body weight. The fins are sold primarily to Asian markets for shark fin soup.

The bill applies also to vessels registered in the state that fish outside Hawaii's territorial waters, which extend three miles from the islands. Foreign vessels will be allowed to have shark fins on board but will be prohibited from shipping fins through any of the islands.

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