State Senate approves shark fin ban

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois may become the first state without an ocean shore to ban possession of shark fin.

The state Senate approved the ban by 41-13 on Tuesday. It now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn.

Shark fin is a pricey delicacy used to make soup long considered a status symbol. Environmentalists say that harvesting fins is inhumane and a threat to shark populations.

Although shark fins aren’t harvested in Illinois, lawmakers say Chicago’s Chinatown is a hub for the sale and consumption of shark fin in the Midwest. They say a state measure would help reduce demand and prohibit it worldwide, including in China.