April 30, 2021 โ U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has brought back his proposal for the U.S. Commerce Department to increase regulation on the international shark trade.
Rubio has been pushing the โSustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Actโ since 2018 and he reintroduced it this week.
The bill โwould require any country that seeks to export shark, ray, and skate to the US to first demonstrate it has a system of science-based management to prevent overfishing and a prohibition on the practice of shark finningโ and ensure other nations โmust also receive certification from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that its fisheries management policies are on par with US practicesโ and modifies the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., is co-sponsoring the bill. So are U.S. Sens. Mike Braun, R-Ind., and Bill Cassidy, R-La.