Toronto goes FinFree!!!

United Conservationists, Shark Angels and Fin Free Toronto is pleased to announce the city of Toronto, Ontario has shown exceptional leadership, passing a historic bill today to ban the sale possession of shark fins. In doing so, Toronto is giving sharks a much- needed chance to recover, while protecting our oceans, and all who depend upon them. The bill, which makes in unlawful for any person to possess, sell, offer for sale, trade, or distribute a shark fin, passed with landmark support – by a vote of 38 to 4.

The Fin Free campaign has gone viral and is spreading across Canada already – and has been largely responsible for the vast outpouring of community support to push the ban forward in Toronto. Now we want to take Fin Free nationally. To do so, we desperately need your support. Please consider donating to make it possible to make all of Canada Fin Free.

“Today is a monumental win for sharks and for the community that helped make it happen. Legislation to ban the shark fin trade and a collaborative global response to this issue is critically needed. When we launched Sharkwater, our sole intent was to make a difference for sharks – but to be a part of it in my hometown… this is extraordinary.” Says award-winning filmmaker and Toronto resident Rob Stewart. It was Stewart’s film, Sharkwater, that spurred both Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam and Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker into action, introducing and championing the legislation.

Stewart's not-for-profit organization, United Conservationists (UC) launched the popular "Fin Free" campaign to rally grassroots support of the ban in Toronto, with the Shark Angel's full support.  The Fin Free campaign has gone viral and is spreading across Canada already - and has been largely responsible for the vast outpouring of community support to push the ban forward in Toronto. The Fin Free team, including United Conservationists and Shark Angels alike, is working on a federal campaign to support Federal legislation with WildAid, which is expected to be introduced by MP Fin Donnelly next month.

"Now that Toronto, a city with the second highest consumption rate of shark fin soup has gone Fin Free, we believe this movement will continue to spread not only through Canada, but the rest of the world," says Julie Andersen, Executive Director of United Conservationists and founder of Shark Angels. Having spent the last four years in the field documenting the unsustainable, often illegal and inhumane practice of shark finning, Andersen agrees with Stewart that a ban on possession is desperately needed to make a quick impact on a plummeting shark population.

“We just need the public’s continued support, and anything is possible!”

Fuel the movement.