LCO 3538 1 of 2
General Assembly Committee Bill No. 5012
January Session, 2025
LCO No. 3538
Referred to Committee on ENVIRONMENT
Introduced by:
(ENV)
AN ACT PROHIBITING THE PRACTICE OF SHARK FINNING.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) For purposes of this 1
section: (1) "Shark" means any species of the subclass Elasmobranchii, 2
but does not include any species in the order Batoidea or any smooth-3
hound; and (2) "shark fin" means a raw, dried or otherwise processed 4
fin or tail that is separated from the body of a shark. 5
(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, no 6
person shall possess, sell, offer for sale, trade or distribute a shark fin. 7
(c) The prohibition contained in subsection (b) of this section shall not 8
apply to any person who holds a license or permit to take or land sharks 9
when separating a fin or tail from a lawfully landed shark during the 10
ordinary course of preparing the body of the shark for consumption, 11
sale, trade or distribution, provided such fin or tail that is separated 12
from the shark shall be immediately destroyed unless it is used by such 13
person for the purpose of personal consumption or taxidermy. 14
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, 15 Committee Bill No. 5012
LCO 3538 2 of 2
the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection may issue a 16
permit for the possession of shark fins for scientific research or 17
educational purposes. 18
(e) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (b) of this 19
section shall have committed an infraction and may pay the fine, by 20
mail, or plead not guilty in accordance with the provisions of section 51-21
164n of the general statutes. 22
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2025 New section
ENV Joint Favorable