Vegetarian Star

Leonardo DiCaprio has written a letter to the California State Senate in support of Assembly Bill 376, which would ban the sale of shark fins in the state.

In addition to being backed by dozens of celebrities like Megan Fox, Rachel Bilson and Ben Stiller, the bill is supported by the Humane Society of the United States, Wild Aid and Natural Resources Defense Council.

An excerpt from the letter:

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has concluded that a third of shark species are now threatened with extinction of some kind. And recent estimates state that up to 73 million sharks are killed each year for use in shark fin soup and other products. Traditionally shark fin was affordable only to the elite, and consequently the issue of decimation of species was not a concern. But with the explosion of the world’s population, and an increasing number of wealthy consumers, this can no longer be considered true, as has been evidenced by the decimation of shark populations worldwide. Despite fisheries attempts at regulation, the inhumane practice of finning continues unabated too, as does the illegal capture of sharks from marine reserves and sovereign waters.

Similar measures have already passed in other states. Hawaii was the first to ban fins. Washington’s governor recently signed a measure that prohibits “selling, trading or distributing shark fins or derivative products including cartilage supplements.” And in Oregon, the Senate passed a bill 58-1 that prohibits the “possessing, selling, offering for sale, trading or distributing” of shark fins.

Photo: PR Photos

Possibly Related Posts:

• Jon Stewart and Wife Tracey Stewart Adopt Horse
• Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Elephants Retire To Sanctuary
• SeaWorld Phasing Out Whale Breeding Program
• Meatless Mouthful–Stevie Wonder Says Vegan Helps His Good Looks And Planet
• Best Vegetarian Stories Of 2015