The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the California Assembly “overwhelmingly approved” (62-8 vote) a measure that could ban the sale and distribution of shark fins in the state. The bill (AB376) will now move on to the state Senate. If the bill is approved by the Senate, the shark fin ban will take effect on January 1, 2013.

The bill has been somewhat controversial since the ban of shark fins would result in making shark fin soup illegal. The soup is regarded as a Chinese delicacy. Opponents of the bill have claimed that the bill targets Asian cultures unfairly.