Hawaii: the first US state to ban shark fishing

Once again Hawaii takes action to protect sharks by imposing heavy fines on all who catch or kill them.

What does the new law on shark fishing provide?

In the Hawaiian tradition , sharks are familiar presences , far from fearful. In local mythology, in fact, the aumakua are deified ancestors who can take on animal features (of sharks, in fact, or even of owls or turtles) and remain silently alongside their loved ones, manifesting themselves to save them from misadventures.

Considering the very deep link between these suggestive predators and the local culture, it is no wonder that Hawaii has marked a record: it is the first state in the United States to ban shark fishing . It is thanks to the Act 51 (House Bill 533) , which came into force on January 1, 2022.

The new law prohibits the intentional capture and killing of sharks of any species in territorial waters. Offenders are punished with fines ranging from a minimum of $ 500 up to a maximum of $ 10,000 if the offense is repeated more than three times. They also risk the seizure of illegally caught fish and equipment, as well as the suspension of the license .

The law also recommends refraining from fishing in areas known to be populated by sharks, freeing them as safely as possible in case of unintentional capture.

The precedent: the ban on shark finning

Hawaii had already distinguished itself in the past for their shark conservation efforts . In fact, in 2010 they had already banned the so-called shark finning and the sale of their fins, starting an initiative followed by 13 other states and territories of the USA.

While not formally prohibiting their killing, this decision still saved the lives of thousands of animals. In fact, once deprived of their fin, their bodies – considered to be devoid of any economic value – are thrown into the sea . Being mutilated, however, they are no longer able to swim and end up running aground on the seabed , where they bleed to death, from suffocation or eaten by other predators.

According to some estimates , around 100 million sharks die from this cruel practice every year. The enormous suffering for sentient creatures goes hand in hand with significant damage to biodiversity , as predators play a key role in keeping ecosystems in balance. A role that is in danger of being lost, now that as many as 181 shark species are classified as “vulnerable”, “endangered” or “critically endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List .

All this just to prepare a soup made from shark fins , considered a delicacy in China and Vietnam. Or to sell the dried fins , used in traditional Chinese medicine.