Governor signs shark fin ban
Hallelujah.
Shark fins will no longer be sold or used in food in California starting in 2013, under a law Gov. Jerry Brown signed today that bans the possession, sale and distribution of imported shark fins in the state.
“The practice of cutting the fins off of living sharks and dumping them back in the ocean is not only cruel, but it harms the health of our oceans,” Brown said. “Researchers estimate that some shark populations have declined by more than 90 percent, portending grave threats to our environment and commercial fishing. In the interest of future generations, I have signed this bill.”
Hawaii, Oregon and Washington have similar statewide bans. However, proponents have said California is a critical state and a ban here would have a major impact on the practice. The bill is AB376 by Assemblyman Paul Fong, D-Sunnyvale.
California already banned shark finning along the coast. The new ban will forbid the importation of any shark fins starting Jan. 1. Fins already in the state can be sold and possessed until July 1, 2013. (read the rest at the link)
(via allcreatures)
Surfer Grabs, Saves Great White Shark
When the words “surfer” and “shark” appear together in a headline, the news usually concerns a bloody encounter. But in Venice Beach, California, a few days ago, video footage captured something remarkable: surfers grabbing and saving a great white shark.
Two young foxes play in a backyard garden in Barrington.
Photo submitted by John Anderson. (via Top 10 photos — TribLocal.com)
mothernaturenetwork: 11 animals that mate for life
Humans like to think of themselves as a faithful species, but when it comes to true fidelity, many other animals offer better examples of how to keep a relationship together. Although monogamy and lifelong pair bonds are generally rare in the animal kingdom, here’s our list of animals that pull it off.