Rules on shark fin removal at sea tightened

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission voted Tuesday to approve a new rule that allows fishermen to bring smooth dogfish to land with fins removed, as long as their total retained catch is at least 25 percent smooth dogfish.

Conservationist group Oceana has argued that allowing legal fin removal bolsters the global shark fin trade, which leads to the practice of "finning," or cutting the fin off a live shark and dumping the animal back in the water, in other countries.

Oceana responsible fishing campaign director Lora Snyder called the new dogfish rules a step in the right direction but also said the changes don't go far enough because it will still be legal to remove fins from sharks.