Our Daily Planet: Shark Fin Ban and Birding World Series

Each weekday morning, OurAmazingPlanet takes the pulse of the Earth, reporting on natural phenomena and exploration news from around the globe.

No Soup for Washington: Washington State has banned the sale, trade or distribution of shark fins, the key ingredient in controversial shark fin soup.

Spain quake damage: The quake's death toll has climbed to nine and officials reported damage to about a tenth of the buildings in the town of Lorca.

Climbing Disaster: Two members of a climbing team fell from Alaska's Mount McKinley. One climber died in the fall and the other was rescued by helicopter from 19,500 feet (5,900 meters).

Previously on Our Daily Planet: Hillary Visits the Arctic and Europe's Ticking Time Bomb

Reach OurAmazingPlanet staff writer Brett Israel at bisrael@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @btisrael.

Brett Israel was a staff writer for Live Science with a focus on environmental issues. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from The University of Georgia, a master’s degree in journalism from New York University, and has studied doctorate-level biochemistry at Emory University.