Obama signs bill setting rules on shark fin trade

President Barack Obama has signed legislation that sets federal rules on the lucrative trade in shark fins nationally, especially off the West Coast.

Obama signed the measure yesterday.

The new law requires all vessels to land sharks with fins attached and aims to prevent nonfishing vessels from transporting shark fins without their carcasses.

Enactment of the measure comes more than six months after Hawaii banned the possession, sale or distribution of shark fins, which is a delicacy often used in Chinese soups.

Hawaii’s law goes farther than the federal law, in that all possession and trade of shark fins is banned.