Media
Yes On I-1401 Will Crack Down On Shark Fin Trade In Extinction Economy
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
The Extinction Economy is made up of those who profit from and engage in poaching, killing of threatened species and trade in products made from endangered animals.
The Extinction Economy is thriving on land and at sea, exploiting weaknesses in anti-poaching law. INTERPOL’s Purple Notice, an international alert system to provide information on, procedures, objects, devices or hiding places used by criminals such as poachers, is tracking ships associated with poaching worldwide. In 2013, INTERPOL issued a Purple Notice documenting a new technique for poaching sharks for their fins and tracked the operations of the Wang Jia Men 89. 145 shark carcasses missing their fins were discovered on board.
That’s why I-1401 would toughens penalties for buying, selling and trading shark products in Washington State so that we can crack down on the shark product marketplace at home and abroad. The marketplace will thrive as long as poachers can exploit gaps and loopholes in the legal system in order to turn a profit.
Recent conservation efforts have helped to slow the sharp decline but sharks grow very slowly, taking years to mature and they produce very few young. These characteristics make the shark particularly vulnerable. Shark populations simply cannot replenish at the rate by which they are being slaughtered. I-1401 will make a difference in ending the trade in shark products, and will give shark populations a chance to rebound to healthy levels. By passing I-1401, Washington State will lead the way by increasing state penalties for those who evade federal authorities at points-of-entry for the United States.
“We are only going to save animals like sharks from extinction if we all work together in Washington State,” said Yes on I-1401 spokesperson Aaron Pickus. “It’s time to attack the marketplace for selling, purchasing and trading shark fins by toughening penalties for this destructive crime. That’s why we are highlighting just one example among many of INTERPOL’s Purple Notice tracking system: the global marketplace in shark fins thrives because of loopholes and weak laws at home and abroad. By passing I-1401 this November, we can help lead the world to save sharks and other threatened, endangered and critically endangered species from disappearing forever.”
Throughout the week, Yes on I-1401 will highlight examples of those who profit from the Extinction Economy on social media and other channels. Stay tuned this week for graphics, current and historical details on this global problem with a local presence.
Excerpt from INTERPOL Purple Notice on the Wang Jia Men 89
“The National Coast Guard raised the alert about shark finning following the seizure of shark fins in Costa Rican territorial waters. The method involved capturing the sharks which were then cut into pieces or gutted, leaving just a thin strip of skin to which the fins were attached. The skin was then folded over leaving the fins ‘naturally attached’ as required under Costa Rican law, so that from a distance the shark looked smaller but whole. The suspects attempted to deceive the authorities with this new technique.”