# Understanding the Shark Sales Elimination Act of 2021

This bill would make it illegal to buy, sell, or possess shark parts or products made from shark parts anywhere in the United States. That means you couldn't sell shark fins, shark teeth, shark skin, or anything else made from sharks for commercial purposes. If you tried to sell shark products, you'd face federal penalties similar to those used for other illegal fishing violations.

The ban applies broadly to any shark species, including everything from great whites to smaller sharks. It covers raw shark parts as well as processed items—so shark fin soup, shark leather goods, or shark tooth jewelry would all be prohibited from being bought or sold. The law would be enforced through existing federal fishing violation penalties, which can include significant fines and other consequences.

However, the bill includes some important exceptions. People who catch sharks legally under state or federal fishing licenses could keep the parts if they're using them for personal subsistence (like feeding their family), or if they're donating them to museums, colleges, or universities for research and display purposes. States could also pass their own laws that are even stricter than this federal ban if they wanted to. The main goal is to stop the commercial shark parts trade, which supporters argue harms shark populations that are already threatened by overfishing.

Shark Sales Elimination Act of 2021

Lieu, Ted

Shark Sales Elimination Act of 2021 This bill makes it illegal to possess, buy, or sell shark parts or any product containing shark parts.	A person may possess a shark part that was lawfully taken consistent with a license or permit under certain circumstances. Penalties are imposed for violations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.