National News posted Jun 19, 2019 @ 12:30pm by Dylan McCullough

Canada has officially banned the import of shark fins

On Tuesday, Canada passed its new Fisheries Act which includes an official ban on the import and export of shark fins.

According to Oceana Canada, the Great White North was the largest importer of shark fins outside of Asia.

Estimates claim the global shark fin trade kills as many as 73-million sharks each year, with many of those sharks being considered endangered species.

Today is a great day for sharks and for the many Canadians, advocacy groups and politicians who championed a #FinBanNow. 🦈 A HUGE thank you to MP @FinDonnelly for his unwavering work to ban shark finning since 2013. #FinBansFins pic.twitter.com/OVd4HMkCmh
— Oceana Canada (@OceanaCAN) June 19, 2019

The response from the House of Commons to Bill #C68 has been agreed to by the Senate: https://t.co/po0r20xDWz #SenCA #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/j5zDYcUulr
— Senate of Canada (@SenateCA) June 19, 2019

Environmental organizations have praised the ban, calling it a “great day for our oceans” and the start of the end for the cruel practice.

The ban comes a week after Parliament passed a bill outlawing whale and dolphin captivity.

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