We don't know how the hell this didn't pop up on everyone's radar yesterday, but Oceana reported today that on Monday the US House of Representative passed the Shark Conservation Act of 2009 (H.R. 81). The bill says that fishermen need to land Sharks with their fins still attached. This means that Shark fins can only be removed within US territorial waters after the Sharks are brought to port. The reason this is a true Shark finning ban is because it will now not be commercially viable in US waters. The bill was introduced and sponsored by Madeleine Bordallo, Congresswoman from Guam. Madeleine Bordallo deserves a big Sharky kiss.

We would like to give a roll call count of which representatives if any voted against the bill so that you could all express your ire at them, but only a voice vote was taken, not a roll call count. Fine, we'll take it.

Technically our headline is a bit disingenuous. Not all of Congress has passed the bill, just the House Of Representatives. The Senate still has to vote and Obama still has to sign it, but all indications are that this will happen very soon.

Sweet,

--Sharky

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