SHARKED Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Wittman
Passed House
Summary
Shark Depredation Task Force. This bill would create a federal task force in the Department of Commerce to coordinate research, recommend management, and share education to reduce harmful shark interactions with fisheries and anglers.
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- Fishing communities and anglers: The task force would develop and distribute educational materials and recommend techniques to reduce harmful interactions, including non-lethal deterrents and changes in angler behavior.
- Fisheries managers and coastal States: The group must include representatives from each Regional Fishery Management Council, Marine Fisheries Commissions, coastal State fish and wildlife agencies, and the National Marine Fisheries Service, plus shark experts. It would improve coordination, develop management recommendations, and report to Congress every 2 years, and it ends after 7 years.
- Researchers and funding: The task force would identify research priorities such as species involved, stock assessments, habituation, angler behavior, deterrent effectiveness, shark ecology, and climate-driven shifts. The bill also adds shark depredation projects to eligible projects under the Magnuson-Stevens fisheries research provisions, opening avenues for funding.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Shark depredation task force and research grants
If enacted, the Commerce Secretary would create a Shark Depredation Task Force with fishery councils, coastal state agencies, NOAA Fisheries, and shark experts. The group would set research priorities, recommend ways to cut losses to sharks, and share education with the fishing community. It would report to Congress within 2 years of enactment and every 2 years after, and end no later than 7 years after it starts. The bill would also let eligible researchers and fishery groups seek grants under an existing program to study causes and fixes for shark depredation. These changes would take effect upon enactment and do not add new funding by themselves.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Wittman
VA • R
Cosponsors
Webster (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 1/3/2025
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 1/3/2025
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
TX • D
Sponsored 1/3/2025
Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]
FL • R
Sponsored 1/13/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov