Stop Shark Finning
Killed for their fins
Sharks are beautiful animals that have roamed our oceans since before the time of dinosaurs. But every year, millions of sharks fall victim to the horrific practice of finning. The fins of the shark are cut off and the rest of the shark is discarded in the sea to die.
Together, we can stop this.
Help us Save Sharks
Help us save these beautiful ocean predators. Donate here, call 253-404-3657 or mail a donation to:
The Zoo Society
5400 North Pearl Street
Tacoma, WA 98407
Is this your idea of a shark?
Conservation Updates
When humans work together, we can make change for good. Here’s the latest exciting progress.
May 2015
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Sharks and rays are listed as a species in the Association of Zoos & Aquarium’s “Saving Animals From Extinction” (SAFE) campaign.
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This focuses the collective expertise of accredited zoos and aquariums, including Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, to identify the threats, develop action plans, raise new resources and engage the public in saving sharks and rays.
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June 2015
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Texas becomes the 10th US State to ban the sale of shark fin products.
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It joins Washington, Hawaii, California, Oregon, Illinois, Maryland, Delaware, New York, and Massachusetts.
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November 2015
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Washington State passes Initiative 1401 banning the sale of 10 endangered animal products including sea turtles, sharks, and rays. Metro Parks Tacoma endorsed this measure
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Staff members at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium collaborated with colleagues at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Woodland Park Zoo and Seattle Aquarium to educate the public about the perils facing these endangered species.
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April 2016
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Two PDZA dive staff members travel to the Socorro Islands Biosphere Preserve off the coast of Mexico to help in a crucial project to track sharks’ movements over time.
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The Zoo Society’s Dr. Holly Reed Wildlife Conservation Fund paid for their travel expenses and donated acoustic receivers to collect long-term data on tagged sharks. Read more in the blog.
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June 2016
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The Shark Fin Elimination Act of 2016 is introduced to Congress.
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While shark finning is illegal in US waters, this bill would ban the trade of shark fins in the United States.
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August 2016
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Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Hawaiian Islands becomes the largest ecologically protected area on the planet.
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Measuring 582,578 square miles (1.5 million square kilometers), it's more than twice the size of Texas and is home to more than 7,000 marine species.
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March 2018
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Governor Inslee and the Washington State Legislature have approved $300,000 to fund the Washington Animal Trafficking Act for 2018-2019.
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This Act bans the trafficking of products from ten groups of endangered animals including sharks. The funding will allow officers to inspect more cargo, expand the K-9 detection program, develop lab testing of evidence, and apprehend traffickers.
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March 2018
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The Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act would require a nation seeking to export shark, ray, and skate products to the U.S. to receive certification from NOAA that it has management and conservation policies in place comparable to those in the U.S.
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This bill aims to level the playing field for U.S. fisheries and encourage other countries to support sustainable trade in sharks, skates and rays.
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Take Action
Meet our sharks!
Meet our 16 big sharks in the Outer Reef, and touch small sharks and rays (shark cousins) at Stingray Cove – both inside the South Pacific Aquarium. And don’t miss our scalloped hammerheads in the new Pacific Seas Aquarium!