美加州参议院通过鱼翅禁令

美国加利福尼亚州参议院本周二投票通过一项议案，将于2013年1月1日起禁止在该州销售、购买或者持有鱼翅。环保组织表示，加州是亚洲以外最大的鱼翅消费市场之一，此项议案有助于减少鲨鱼过度捕捞，保护海洋生态环境。反对者则提出，鲨鱼并未被美国列入濒危动物范畴，而且该议案只是禁止鱼翅的售卖，却仍然允许鲨鱼肉以及鲨鱼皮产品的销售，本身存在矛盾。他们还指出这项议案对华裔美国人有歧视嫌疑，因为鱼翅一直都是华裔居民喜爱的一道菜肴。目前，该议案尚在等待州长签署。一旦通过，加州便是继夏威夷、俄勒冈、华盛顿州以及关岛之后又一个颁出鱼翅禁令的地区。

Shark fin soup would be off the menu in California, under a bill headed for the governor's desk following its approval by the state Senate on Tuesday.

The measure, which gained final passage on a bipartisan 25-9 vote, would ban the sale, purchase or possession in California of the ocean-going predator's fins, which are the chief ingredient in a soup dish that has long been part of Chinese culture.

The bill, approved by the state Assembly earlier this year, would take effect on January 1, 2013.

Bill supporters, including environmental groups, actor Leonardo DiCaprio and several celebrity Asian chefs, say the ban is needed to protect endangered shark populations from over-fishing. California, with its population of 1.1 million Chinese-Americans, is one of the biggest markets for shark fins outside Asia.

"(This bill) addresses an important environmental threat to our oceans' health," said state Senator Chris Kehoe, a San Diego Democrat who was one of the bill's chief proponents. "It's our market here that drives the slaughter."

But opponents noted that no species of shark is listed as endangered in the Untied States. They said the measure also unfairly singles out a favorite dish of many Chinese-Americans, for whom the pricey delicacy is a customary culinary accompaniment to weddings and other special occasions.

They argue that the bill was inconsistent because it bans shark fins while allowing shark steaks to be sold, as well as apparel and other merchandise made from shark skin, such as boots, bags and belts.

"This bill goes out of its way to be discriminatory," said Senator Ted Lieu, a Democrat who represents the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance.

The lucrative market for shark fin, which can sell for upward of $600 per pound, has increased the practice of "finning," in which fishermen saw off shark fins and leave the maimed ocean predator to bleed to death.

In January, President Barack Obama signed legislation tightening an 11-year-old ban on finning in federal waters.

Authored by Assemblyman Paul Fong, a Democrat born in China, California's proposed ban split the state Legislature's Asian delegation.

Governor Jerry Brown has taken no position on the bill.

The Democratic governor has 12 days from the time it reaches his desk to sign or veto the measure, which automatically becomes law if he fails to act. In that case, California would join Hawaii, Oregon, Washington state and the U.S. territory of Guam in banning shark fin sales.