1. Pledge to never eat shark or purchase shark products of any kind. Avoid restaurants and markets that sell shark products. Support restaurants and markets on the "Shark Free Alternatives" list and thank them for being shark free.

2. If you must eat seafood, please eat only sustainable seafood. If you aren't sure, ask what kind of fish you are eating, how it was caught and where it was caught. Download and print-out a sustainable seafood guide here and keep it with you.

3. Go to the links page to learn more about the plight of sharks and our oceans. Then learn of the many ways you can get involved in shark conservation and more.

4. Spread the word! Tell your family and friends about the importance of shark conservation! Print out the Shark Free S.B. Guide and hand them out.

5. We are hoping to expand our list to include all of Santa Barbara County. If you know of any other business that sells shark that we failed to list, or if you can suggest any shark free businesses as alternatives, or if you are interested in helping Shark Free Santa Barbara, please contact us.

6. If you are not from Santa Barbara, contact all seafood restaurants, markets and grocery stores in your town to find out where shark is served. Download an informational brochure and hand them out to the owners of these businesses and ask them to stop selling shark products. Start a website such as this one and help to make your town shark free.

7. The U.S. banned shark finning in 2000 but the exploitation of legal loopholes has allowed finning to continue here, and the practice continues worldwide. The proposed U.S. Conservation Act of 2009, however, would close those gaps, including one that allows non-fishing vessels to buy fins from sellers on the open seas. That act passed the House of Representatives by unanimous consent in March but still awaits action in the Senate. Contact your local Senator and ask them to support the U.S. Shark Conservation Act of 2009.

If we stop the buying and selling of shark products, we can stop the killing.