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About This Collection

As a result of a United Nations General Assembly resolution passed in December 2008, World Oceans Day is celebrated on June 8th each year. This annual event spurred the creation of a special collections around our oceans and the efforts being made in conservation ranging from pollution to habitat restoration to fishing and fisheries.

The special collection continues to grow along with Plastic in Our Oceans and 1Water, with a focus on the challenge of providing clean drinking water to the world population.

Curated by mokiethecat

Alexandra Cousteau - Ban the US Shark Fin Trade
June 23, 2016
Learn More: http://oceana.org/FinBanNow Shark finning, which contributes to the decline of shark populations around the world, is the cruel practice in which the fins of a shark are cut off on board a fishing vessel at sea, and the remainder of the animal is thrown back into the water to drown, starve or die a slow death. This practice is also wasteful, as typically only 2-5 percent of the shark is used. The global demand for shark fin soup perpetuates this horrific practice. Banning the sale and possession of shark fins would ensure that the United States no longer participates in the global fin trade that is contributing to the decline of sharks around the world. Although stopping shark finning is a global effort, the U.S. can establish itself as a leader by banning shark fin sale and possession. Music by Adam Lindquist: http://adamlindquist.com/ Transcript: This is a brutal, wasteful practice that threatens rhino populations. That’s why these are illegal in the United States. This is a brutal and wasteful practice that threatens elephant populations. That’s why these are illegal in the United States. This is a brutal and wasteful practice that threatens shark populations, that is illegal in U.S. waters. So why aren’t these illegal in the U.S.? Sharks are vital to ocean ecosystems, yet millions of sharks end up in the fin trade every year, leaving nearly a quarter of sharks and their relatives threatened with extinction. It’s time for congress to stand up for these magnificent and important creatures. End the buying and selling of shark fins in the United States.