Stewart Bill to Stop Wildlife Trafficking in New Mexico Headed to Final Vote in House

Urgency for Ending Illegal Animal Sale Increased by Coronavirus Outbreak Linked to Wildlife in Market

Sen. Mimi Stewart’s Wildlife Trafficking Act is headed to its final vote by the full House of Representatives after it passed the House Judiciary Committee 10-2 on Saturday. Passage of the bill has an increased urgency this year as the devastating outbreak of COVID-19, a lethal strain of the coronavirus, has been linked to the sale of wildlife in a market in China.

“Wildlife trafficking is having devastating impacts on animals and human communities,” Stewart said. “We cannot ignore the fact that the illegal sale of wildlife is driving species to extinction and creating dangerous outbreaks of disease that are killing hundreds of people around the world.” 

Specifically, SB 75 makes it easier to crack down on the sale of endangered species and their parts—such as certain shark fins or rhinoceros tusks. The bill also creates civil penalties for wildlife trafficking, with fines not to exceed $10,000 or three times the value of the items trafficked—whichever is greater.

“Traffickers are in the business they’re in because they want the money,” Stewart said. “Stiff financial penalties will hit them where it hurts. We need to take the profit out of killing endangered species.”

The Wildlife Trafficking Act only deals with the intentional sale of these animal products. Possession is not affected by the legislation. As a result, New Mexicans who may own antiques or heirlooms that contain ivory or other animal parts covered by the bill will not be impacted.

“This bill is narrowly focused on the cracking down on the multibillion-dollar wildlife-trafficking black market,” Stewart said. “The goal of the Wildlife Trafficking Act is to crack down on an industry that is quickly and illegally killing off endangered species around the world.” 

Wildlife trafficking is an issue in New Mexico because the El Paso Port of Entry is one of the top places for trafficked materials to enter the United States. Illegal goods then pass through New Mexico as they are distributed and sold illegally around the country.

SB 75 now heads to the full House of Representatives for a vote before going to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to be signed into law.