To protect sharks from the cruel practice of shark finning (cutting off sharks' fins and throwing the sharks back in the water, often while still alive).  Congress banned this practice in 2000, but enforcement is complex and there is room for cheating. H.R. 5741/S. 3231 closes a loophole that currently permits a vessel to transport fins obtained illegally as long as the sharks were not finned aboard that vessel.

>> Action Alert! Protect Sharks from Finning