Shark Fishing Is Now a Big No-No Here (a First in This Country!)

Hawaii signed a protection bill banning shark fishing, thus becoming the first American state to impose this measure to efficiently protect the mighty species most valuable for a well-balanced ecosystem.

“We are well aware of how important sharks are to maintain healthy marine ecosystems,” says Brian Neilson, Administrator of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. According to the new law, it is illegal to “knowingly capture, entangle, or kill any species of shark” in Hawaiian waters.

Hawaii made history more than a decade ago when it became the first state to ban the possession, sale, trade, and distribution of shark fins. Hawaiian Governor David Ige signed nine bills to protect the state’s marine resources, including the shark protection bill. Significant fines will be imposed on the culprits — $500 for the first offense, $2,000 for the second offense, and $10,000 for the third and all subsequent offenses — and additional penalties such as the seizure of equipment, vessels, and licenses.