Exclusive Economic Zone (up to 200 nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi) offshore), and possession of fins by any U.S.-flagged fishing vessels on international waters.

Ten days later, it was brought up on motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, and was agreed to by voice vote.

"[5] During the congressional discussion, Shark finning was called "one of the most visible and controversial conservation issues in the waters of the Pacific Ocean".

In August 2002, the destroyer USS Fife, patrolling international waters off the coast of Guatemala, intercepted the King Diamond II, a U.S.-flagged, Hong Kong-based former fishing trawler.

A Coast Guard detachment with the Fife was sent aboard to investigate, and found 32.3 short tons (29.3 t) of shark fins rotting in various locations on board, without any corresponding carcasses.

[8] The KD II was escorted to San Diego, where the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement finished the investigation.

[9] To close the loophole, Congress passed the Shark Conservation Act of 2010, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on January 4, 2011.