Friday, January 11, 2013

Illinois Outlaws Shark Fins


On January 1, 2013, a new law went into effect that affects what you may or may not see on your menu when you dine out in Chicago. Public Act 97-733 prohibits anyone in the state of Illinois from possessing, selling, trading, distributing, or trying to sell a shark fin.

This is wonderful news for animal rights’ advocates, who have long condemned the brutal practice by which shark fins are harvested. In the vast majority of cases, sharks are pulled from the ocean in nets and deposited on the floor of the fishing ships. Workers quickly, and without any kind of anesthesia, saw off several fins before grabbing the bloodied shark and tossing it back into the ocean. Without its fins, the shark cannot swim, and thus cannot hunt for food or escape its predators. It slowly starves to death, unless it is eaten alive before it has a chance to do so.

Chicago sits on Lake Michigan, which has long been one of the United States’s great trading ports. Cargo from all over the world comes to the Windy City’s docks and is unloaded on our shores - cargo that often includes shark fins. There are currently several restaurants in the city that reportedly advertise and serve shark fin soup.

But on January 1, 2013, these restaurants and others were forced to permanently take Shark Fin soup off the menu. This soup is favored in Chinese and Korean cultures and traditionally served at weddings, since it supposedly boosts virility. This year and from now on, however, lovers will have to look elsewhere for their amorous aids, because Illinois has taken a serious step in combating this violent attack on the world’s sharks.

If you or a loved one is being investigated or has been charged with possession of any contraband, including but certainly not limited to shark fins (we’re thinking marijuana, narcotics, methamphetamine, firearms, etc), then time is of the essence. Contact the Law Offices of Raymond G.Wigell, Ltd., at (708) 481 – 4800. Attorneys are available 24/7 and the first consultation is free. With our 36 years of experience, let us help you through every single stage of the criminal investigation and prosecution. 

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