Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle on Friday signed a bill that prohibits the possession, sale or distribution of shark fins.
Shark-fin soup is considered a delicacy in many Asian nations, and environmentalists say rising demand is threatening shark species around the world.
A report last year by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature estimates 32% of open ocean shark species are in danger of becoming extinct primarily because of overfishing.
13% of Hawaii’s population is Chinese or part-Chinese, although Japanese tourists are said to be the biggest consumers of the soup, because it is up to four times cheaper in Hawaii than it is in Japan. The new law has stirred up controversary among some restaurant owners.
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