A federal appeals court in San Francisco has dismissed a legal challenge to a California law banning the sale, distribution and possession of shark fins.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Monday the legislation does not conflict with a 19th century law that gives federal officials authority to manage shark fishing off the California coast.
The court also said the plaintiffs had not shown the law significantly interferes with interstate commerce.
The ruling upheld a lower court decision tossing the lawsuit brought by the Chinatown Neighborhood Association. The law was passed in 2011.
The group had argued that the ban unfairly targeted the Chinese community, which considers shark fin soup a delicacy.