SACRAMENTO—In response to the recent court filing by the Asian American Rights Committee of California challenging the unconstitutionality of the California Shark Protection Act, AB 376 and AB 853, Assemblymember Paul Fong (D-Cupertino) released the following statement:
All over the world a global movement has been taking place, uniting individuals, businesses, states, and countries to ban the sale and distribution of shark fins. These conscientious worldwide partners recognize the indisputable scientific evidence of the vital role the shark population is to the overall health of our ocean’s ecosystems and the importance in protecting their population. Action is necessary to protect these precious creatures, because without acting, we may be the generation responsible for wiping out a species that has been in existence for over 450 million years. We must play an active role in protecting and preserving our environment for the public good.
There are a fringe group of people that wish to still profit off the remaining sharks we have left and are willing to take this species to the brink of extinction for their own monetary gain. Should their actions continue unabated and without consequence, then we will lose our shark population for good and risk the health of our ocean’s ecosystem.
Despite the actions of this group, which consist mainly of shark fin industry representatives, an overwhelming number of Asian Pacific American (APA) elected officials and organizations support this ban. Supporters of this bill include: celebrities such as Yao Ming and Sharon Kwok, APA elected officials such as State Board of Equalization Member Betty Yee, Senator Carol Liu, Assemblymember Richard Pan, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors David Chiu, and San Francisco Assessor Phil Ting, and organizations such as Asian Pacific American Ocean Harmony Alliance (APAOHA), Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), Asian Law Alliance (ALA), and Asian Pacific Islanders CA Action Network (APIsCAN).
California joined the states of Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington to ban the possession, sale, and distribution of shark fins.
Assemblymember Fong serves as Chair of the Elections and Redistricting Committee and is a member of the Higher Education, Utilities and Commerce, and Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committees. In addition, Assemblymember Fong serves as Chair of the Select Committees on High Technology and Climate Change and Coastal Protection and is a member of the Select Committees on Biotechnology, Career Technical Education and Workforce Development, Community Colleges, Government Efficiency, Technology and Innovation, Homelessness, Job Creation for the New Economy and Regional Strategies for the Green Economy. He represents Cupertino, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and San Jose.
CONTACT: Bryan C. Singh (916) 319-2022
