Florida has become the USA’s 15th state to ban the shark fin trade! Florida is an epicenter of the shark fin trade. Florida Governor DeSantis signed the shark fin trade ban—the Kristin Jacobs Ocean Conservation Act (SB680)—into law. The bill bans shipping fins across state borders as well as the import or shipping of international fins through Florida, but allows local fishermen to continue fishing.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will studies the economic impact of the ban on local communities, conservation groups are optimistic—in 2017 only 22 Florida fishers were in the shark fin business, bringing in only $360,000 per year. In contrast, shark diving employs 10,000 in Florida and brings in $314 million in Florida (PADI 2019).