Hawaii has banned shark fishing in state marine waters, becoming the first US state to do so.
The ban came into effect on 1st January 2022, but Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) say it still has work to do to fully implement the law.
Brian Neilson, of Hawaii’s Division of Aquatic Resources, said, “Our Department is well aware of how important sharks are to maintain healthy marine ecosystems. And we recognize their importance for native Hawaiian cultural practices and beliefs.”
Hawaii had already banned the sale, trade, distribution, and possession of shark fins back in 2010. It is now illegal to knowingly capture, entangle, or kill any species of shark in Hawaiian waters.
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Great news for Sharks! Hawaii is the first US state to ban shark fishing in state marine waters