6/5/12: Bill passes NYS Environmental Conservation Committee floor!

http://oceana.org/en/news-media/press-center/press-releases/bill-to-ban-shark-fin-trade-moves-forward-in-new-york

3/15/2012:  Winning is within our reach!!! See this article:

http://www.globalanimal.org/2012/02/22/new-york-says-no-to-shark-fin-soup/67434/

Over 73 Million Sharks are killed annually for their fins.
Shark finning refers to cutting off the fin of a shark and discarding the body at sea. The shark is often still alive when it is thrown back into the water. It is unable to swim, suffers a slow death. Ninety-five percent of the animal is wasted.
Shark finning takes place at sea; fishers only have the fins to transport, and thus have no need for refrigeration.
Any shark is taken—regardless of age, size, or species

Shark finning violates the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries as more than 95% of the Shark is wasted
Shark finning is contrary to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s International Plan for the Conservation and Management of Sharks
The United Nations Convention on the Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) lists the whale shark, basking shark, and great white shark as species that could become threatened if trade is not controlled