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Tell Congress: Ban Shark Finning

Target: U.S. House of Representatives
Sponsored by: Oceana

Sharks are important to the health of the oceans, yet humans kill more than 100 million sharks each year. And it's already having dire impacts on the rest of the ocean. The removal of sharks from the ecosystem affects the species below them on the food chain in unpredictable ways, even altering coral reefs and sea grass beds.

That's why it's so important for Congress to pass the Shark Conservation Act, which would protect these important creatures and the entire ocean ecosystem. The Shark Conservation Act would require sharks caught in all U.S. waters to be landed whole with their fins attached. Under current law, fins and carcasses are only required to be landed in a specific ratio.

Urge your representative to help ensure fast passage of this important piece of legislation for the health of our world's oceans!

deadline: 1-16-2010
goal: 15,000

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Success! The House of Representatives passed the Shark Conservation Act of 2009 (H.R. 81) in early March, 2009. Thank you to everyone who helped make this success happen -- not it's time for the Senate to act! Click here for more petitions.

Dear Representative [Name],

Sharks are important to the health of the oceans, yet humans kill more than 100 million sharks each year. As top predators they are responsible for maintaining population sizes of other species. The loss of shark populations is already having dire impacts on the rest of the ocean. The removal of sharks from the ecosystem affects the species below them on the food chain in unpredictable ways, even altering coral reefs and sea grass beds.

Congresswoman Bordallo introduced the Shark Conservation Act (H.R. 81) to help preserve the world's sharks. This bill would require that sharks be landed whole with the fins still attached to the bodies. This practice will make it easier to enforce the shark finning ban and allow for better data collection for use in stock assessments and quota monitoring, since it will be easier to identify species.

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Sincerely,
[Your name here]

We took action on “Tell Congress: Ban Shark Finning”!

# 13,052:

8:51 am PST, Mar 3, Miranda D, France

# 13,051:

8:47 am PST, Mar 3, P J Ash, Michigan

# 13,050:

8:40 am PST, Mar 3, John Wood, Wisconsin

# 13,049:

8:40 am PST, Mar 3, Name not displayed, Michigan

# 13,048:

8:37 am PST, Mar 3, Sarah James, Texas

# 13,047:

8:27 am PST, Mar 3, Anita Chase, Illinois

# 13,046:

7:40 am PST, Mar 3, John Risk, Connecticut

# 13,045:

6:58 am PST, Mar 3, CATHY RUFFINO, New York
WE MUST ACT NOW TO SAVE OUR OCEANS!!!

# 13,044:

4:25 am PST, Mar 3, Christophe Bazin, France
We ought to respects the creatures of the seas and sharks need to be protected now.

# 13,043:

3:13 am PST, Mar 3, Shannon Canada, Georgia

# 13,042:

10:02 pm PST, Mar 2, Kathie Mudge, Arizona

# 13,041:

9:18 pm PST, Mar 2, Richard Roberson, Massachusetts
The damage to the ecosystem needs to stop.

# 13,040:

9:12 pm PST, Mar 2, Elizabeth Galante, Virginia
No one will die of starvation if we can no longer eat shark fins.

# 13,039:

9:05 pm PST, Mar 2, Stephanie Youngs, Wisconsin

# 13,038:

8:53 pm PST, Mar 2, Jenny Alcebo, New York

# 13,037:

8:48 pm PST, Mar 2, Marcus Milnes, Florida

# 13,036:

7:53 pm PST, Mar 2, Jennifer Rogers, New Hampshire

# 13,035:

7:06 pm PST, Mar 2, Dan Johnson, Michigan

# 13,034:

6:47 pm PST, Mar 2, Juliet Bergner, Illinois

# 13,033:

6:47 pm PST, Mar 2, Corina Makey, California
please put an end to this maddness. when did we stop caring about our planet and creatures. they have a soul, they help us survive. by killing the oceans, wilderness and our forests we are only setting ourselves up for disaster and destroying our soul.

# 13,032:

6:38 pm PST, Mar 2, Name not displayed, New Jersey

# 13,031:

5:49 pm PST, Mar 2, Tim Clark, Hawaii

# 13,030:

5:46 pm PST, Mar 2, MICHELLE Garrett, Illinois
Sharks are wonderful misunderstood creatures that don't deserve to be treated this way. At some point we have to realize that we SHARE this planet or we will kill everything on it.

# 13,029:

4:55 pm PST, Mar 2, Nikki Ayres, Maryland

# 13,028:

4:27 pm PST, Mar 2, Name not displayed, New York

# 13,027:

4:18 pm PST, Mar 2, Rachel Bentley, Illinois
Sharks rule.

# 13,026:

4:05 pm PST, Mar 2, Leni & Uma Maraj-Singh, New York
I have seen the horrific videos of this practice and feel a sick disgust each time I see and read of what is being done to these beautiful animals just so that a few sick minded people can eat "shark fin" soup; how still demented some of the human race still is to put a living creature such torture and then calmly sit down and eat. Please put a STOP to this torture for these animals are beautiful and intelligent creatures and no living creature deserves to die, most times still alive finless with blood pouring out of their bodies to die a slow and tortous death.

# 13,025:

3:50 pm PST, Mar 2, Katrina Wikstrom, Michigan
When we interfere with nature, it is alway an unhappy ending.

# 13,024:

3:45 pm PST, Mar 2, Erin Bendall, Michigan

# 13,023:

3:18 pm PST, Mar 2, Pamela Hearn, North Carolina

# 13,022:

2:48 pm PST, Mar 2, Tiombe Vaughan, Maryland
Sharks are an important part of the ocean food chain, they are the garbage man of the deep getting rid of dead or dying fish, they are the gardener of the great blue ridding of the weak leaving the strong, creating a healthy enviornment for all. Don't get rid of such a devoted worker of nature.

# 13,021:

2:25 pm PST, Mar 2, Carolyn DeMott, Hawaii
I have traveled and lived in places where shark finning was allowed due to bribes. It is an absolutely disgusting and wasteful activity.

# 13,020:

2:24 pm PST, Mar 2, Caley Lynch, United Kingdom

# 13,019:

2:16 pm PST, Mar 2, John Engle, Texas
This useless practice must stop, it is senseless, it has no practical value, and has the potential to cripple our own food supply. Even food animals can feel the pain. Our humanity is not defined by personal accomplisments, but by how we treat those weaker than ourselves. At what point do we wake up an realize that we have left common sense in the rearview mirror a long time ago and it is time to become the "good stewards" of the Earth that we are supposed to be? Please...stop listening to the pieces of gold and silver and start listening to common sense.

# 13,018:

2:08 pm PST, Mar 2, Linda Jarsky, Michigan

# 13,017:

1:59 pm PST, Mar 2, Phillip McNelly, Indiana

# 13,016:

1:46 pm PST, Mar 2, Kelly Sommers, California

# 13,015:

1:42 pm PST, Mar 2, Lee Michelsen, France

# 13,014:

1:32 pm PST, Mar 2, Aaron Shaner, Missouri

# 13,013:

1:32 pm PST, Mar 2, Teresa Baker, Washington

# 13,012:

1:24 pm PST, Mar 2, Name not displayed, Illinois

# 13,011:

1:03 pm PST, Mar 2, Erich Lindeman, Georgia

# 13,010:

12:58 pm PST, Mar 2, M.c. Mc fadden, California
SAVE THE SHARKS!

# 13,009:

12:51 pm PST, Mar 2, Babette Puzey, New York

# 13,008:

12:05 pm PST, Mar 2, Aliena Willoughby, Georgia

# 13,007:

12:04 pm PST, Mar 2, Name not displayed, Florida

# 13,006:

11:56 am PST, Mar 2, Kevin Stevenson, California

# 13,005:

11:42 am PST, Mar 2, Sheri Stevenson, California

# 13,004:

11:20 am PST, Mar 2, Lori Oura, Hawaii
By killing these sharks for the sole purpose of gourmet dining is unacceptable. The current law seems designed for the benefit of foreign markets and NOT for the preservation of our ecosystems. By passing the Shark Conservation Act, we would be investing in our future and sustainability.

# 13,003:

11:06 am PST, Mar 2, William Walsh, Hawaii

# 13,002:

11:05 am PST, Mar 2, Name not displayed, California
Don't you think we as humans have removed and killed enouh oceanic species?

# 13,001:

11:03 am PST, Mar 2, Darlene Darling, Florida
Cutting off the fins of sharks is cruel. Humans do not stop coming up with ways to harm others (animals and humans). Please help pass H.R. 81.

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