Hawaii has become the first U.S. state to ban shark fishing.
The new law makes it illegal to “knowingly capture, entangle, or kill any species of shark” in Hawaiian waters.
Violators may be subjected to additional penalties such as the seizure or forfeiture of commercial marine licenses, vessels, and fishing equipment.
Hawaii was the first to pass another critical piece of shark legislation more than a decade ago.
In 2010, Hawaii was the first state in the U.S. to ban the possession of shark fins.
Additionally, shark pregnancies take time, averaging between nine to twelve months, and some shark species do not reproduce every year.
Hawaii’s ban on shark fishing is a boon for shark populations and marks an important step for shark conservation. »