123full t1_j0k7frg wrote on December 17, 2022 at 7:05 AM

Reply to comment by brodoswaggins93 in Historic ban on shark fin trade poised to become U.S. law by AmethystOrator

I mean theoretically this could empower the US navy to go after foreign vassals engaging in Shark fun fin trading, the US has pretty much since it’s inception take the position that it has the right to intervene in crimes taking place in international waters. Not saying that this does it, but it could open the door up for it later down the line

jw8815 t1_j0ks1jh wrote on December 17, 2022 at 11:52 AM

Legally no. The Navy isn't a law enforcement agency. Much like the Army can't enforce laws on land. Also, US law doesn't extend into areas that aren't the US.

123full t1_j0ksld4 wrote on December 17, 2022 at 12:00 PM

Not true, there is historical precedent of the US using it's navy to enforce US law outside of the United States

brodoswaggins93 t1_j0l40e9 wrote on December 17, 2022 at 2:03 PM

Shark finning has already been banned in the US for a while, and they don't go after finning boats in international waters.

CITES recently restricted international trade on roughly 90% of shark fins, so there's already going to be international cooperation on seizing shark fins from protected species in the ports of approximately 170 countries. There's no reason for the US to take things into their own hands in international waters when it will already be dealt with by border agents both in the country of the fins' origin and in the importing country.