First, the bad news. At 2:00 PM yesterday I got word that Senators Fraser and Taylor blocked our shark bill and prevented HB 852 from reaching the Senate floor. That’s right, we lost. They gave into pressure from a small band of vocal charter fishermen who are spreading fear and misinformation. In reality, for Texas charter fishermen, shark fins do not represent a significant revenue stream. However, some are indeed profiting from shark finning. (Pity that some Texas legislators do not recognize the ecological and economic benefits of live sharks at sea so much as the political advantages of protecting the individual rights of a few to profit from a destructive practice.)
If HB 852 had passed, it would not have impacted any currently legal commercial or recreational fishing practices within Texas state waters. It would only have strengthened national and international regulations against the wasteful practice of harvesting sharks for the cartilage in their fins. This legislation would have removed Texas from the demand side of the economic equation by not supporting the illegal trade in shark fin products, specifically shark fin soup.
As Katie Jarl, Texas State Director for the Humane Society of the United States, told me, “The unsustainable demand for shark fins has had a devastating impact on shark populations worldwide. It is extremely disappointing that Sen. Fraser and Sen. Taylor were unsupportive of this common-sense legislation and in turn kept the Senate from taking the time to vote and help end our contribution to the cruel and wasteful practice. A ban on shark fin products is the most effective way to eliminate the demand and to help eradicate shark finning around the world. We’ll continue to fight in Texas for these laws.”
After nearly a year at work on this, it is difficult to accept that a pair of senators who are ideologically opposed to any regulations - even those designed to protect public and ecological health - can decide the fate of sharks in Texas. But that is essentially what happened. It was a quiet defeat. I would have written you all yesterday, but I didn’t have the words. All I could think of was the final stanza of T.S. Eliot’s poem The Hollow Men:
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
Yeah, not really motivating, is it? The thing about making big speeches is this: after “Victory or Death”, what is there left to say? (By the way, “death” was not about me, but the 100 million sharks that are being killed each year to fuel the unsustainable and inhumane shark fin trade.)
Fortunately, it turns out that there is still a lot to say, because the world is not ending (yet). In terms of ocean and shark conservation in Texas, it is just beginning. NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS. Here’s what I am grateful to have now that we did not have 6 months ago in Texas:
An engaged and activated community of ocean lovers
The support of 30+ leading cultural and conservation organizations
Mobilization within the fishing community. Check out Marisol Ramirez’ inspiring video of shark fishermen advocating for our bill
An unwavering commitment to environmental education so that Texas' future leaders will not hesitate to make decisions that positively factor in the value of the natural world
Collaboration with the Humane Society of the United States and other leading animal advocacy groups
Heightened Consumer awareness. Our friend Mark Hall has produced an outstanding documentary called "Sushi: The Global Catch". We’ve pitched a panel on this and other topics for the SXSW Eco conference. To help us earn a spot to present our panel Ocean Conservation through Social Innovation, vote here on Panel Picker: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/
Shark Stewards will continue to lead in ocean and shark conservation efforts in Texas. What started as policy-driven initiative has turned into a great volunteer opportunity for my family. Glad to stay aboard as the Texas chair of Shark Stewards! If you are interested in helping me, please let me know and I’ll find a great place to channel your talents. It’s a team effort!
Finally, this is about fun. Okay, so no party to celebrate the bill, but we can still celebrate our ocean-loving community anyway. (Hey, we’re TEXANS. Nobody can tell us what to do, right?) If we want to party for the sharks, we’re going to do it! More on that after we get our plan together.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your time and willingness to champion this bill. The sharks need us now more than ever. Where there is great injustice, there is great opportunity to have an impact. Texas is full of paradoxes. We have abundant natural resources, strong individualism, and pioneering spirit. If we can direct the right blend of these qualities toward environmental leadership, we could be a force.
I’m disappointed about the loss, it’s true. But we are not finished, not by a long shot. We are just getting started.
Anna M. Clark
Shark Stewards Texas Chair
