California shark fin ban moves forward

A bill that would ban the sale of shark fins in California cleared a key legislative hurdle Thursday afternoon.

The bill, promoted by conservationists, would stop shark fin sales by the end of next year.

Some lawmakers, including state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, say the bill unfairly targets Asian cultures, which use the fins for soup.

The bill passed the Senate appropriations committee and now moves to the full Senate for a vote in the next few weeks.