HONOLULU -- Hawaii could be on the brink of a shark fin ban. State lawmakers said it would be the first law of its kind in the world.

State house and senate lawmakers voted to approve the bill Tuesday. It would ban the capture of sharks within three miles of the shoreline. It would prohibit the harvest, sale, possession and distribution of sharks or shark parts in Hawaii.

“What this says is that the legislature recognizes that Hawaii is now the leader of the United States when it comes to protecting the predator that keeps our oceans managed, by culling off the sick and injured fishes, that keeps our reefs healthy,” said State Sen. Clayton Hee (D-Kahuku-Kaneohe).

Some see the international practice of shark finning as cruel. Others consider it a cultural custom. “You sick, eat shark fin,” said Kwok Cheung Wong, a shark fin vendor.

Still, even Chinatown merchants admit the sale of shark fins has declined in recent years. “Not much people get a lot of money. Before, OK. Before, a lot of people buy,” Wong said.

If the measure passes its final vote, there will soon be no more shark fins for sale. However, lawmakers changed the measure to allow a one year grace period for restaurants and shops that sell shark fin products.

“The expectation is that within one year the restaurants will be able to sell off their inventory of shark fins. It’s a reasonable time period. Then July 1, 2011, there shall be no more possession of shark fins in the state of Hawaii,” Hee said.

House and senate lawmakers also decided on a total ban. “Even the restaurants that we spoke to agreed that as long as it’s a total ban, that they would comply,” Hee said. “This law is a very clean law from an enforcement perspective.”

The final vote on the shark fin ban could come on Friday. If it passes and the governor signs the bill into law, the ban would take effect on July 1.