Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue Act of 2025 or the SHARKED Act of 2025
This bill requires the Department of Commerce to establish a task force to address and report to Congress about critical needs with respect to shark depredation. (Shark depredation is the partial or complete removal of a hooked fish by a shark directly from a fishing line before the line is retrieved.)
The duties of the task force are, among other responsibilities, to (1) develop ways to improve coordination and communication across the fisheries management and shark research communities; (2) identify research priorities and funding opportunities; (3) develop recommended management strategies to address shark depredation; and (4) coordinate the development and distribution of educational materials.
The bill specifies that the task force must include representatives of each Regional Fishery Management Council, each Marine Fisheries Commission, the fish and wildlife agencies of coastal states, and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The task force must also include researchers and others with relevant expertise.
The task force must report its findings to Congress within two years after the bill's enactment and every two years thereafter until the task force is terminated. The task force sunsets within seven years after the date of its establishment.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 207 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 207
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a task force regarding
shark depredation, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Mr. Wittman (for himself, Mr. Webster of Florida, Mr. Soto, and Mr.
Veasey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a task force regarding
shark depredation, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting the Health of Aquatic
systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue Act of 2025''
or the ``SHARKED Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. SHARK DEPREDATION TASK FORCE AND RESEARCH PROJECTS.
(a) Shark Depredation Task Force.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce shall establish
a task force (referred to in this subsection as the ``task
force'') to identify and address critical needs with respect to
shark depredation.
(2) Membership.--The Secretary of Commerce shall appoint
individuals to the task force, including--
(A) 1 representative from--
(i) each Regional Fishery Management
Council established under section 302(a)(1) of
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852(a)(1));
(ii) each Marine Fisheries Commission, as
such term is defined in section 3 of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802);
(iii) the fish and wildlife agency of a
coastal State from each Regional Fishery
Management Council established under section
302(a)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C.
1852(a)(1)); and
(iv) the National Marine Fisheries Service;
(B) an individual with expertise in the management
of highly migratory species;
(C) a researcher with expertise in shark management
and behavior; and
(D) a researcher with expertise in shark ecology.
(3) Responsibilities.--The task force shall--
(A) develop ways to improve coordination and
communication across the fisheries management community
and shark research community to address shark
depredation;
(B) identify research priorities and funding
opportunities for such priorities, including--
(i) identifying shark species involved in
interactions;
(ii) shark stock assessments;
(iii) how sharks become habituated to
humans and thus lead to more interactions
between sharks and humans;
(iv) how angler behavior and fishery
regulatory frameworks may influence shark
interactions;
(v) techniques and strategies to reduce
harmful interactions between sharks and humans,
including the development and use of non-lethal
deterrents;
(vi) the role of healthy shark populations
in the ocean food web; and
(vii) climate change impacts on shifting
shark populations, prey, and shark behavior;
(C) develop recommended management strategies to
address shark depredation; and
(D) coordinate the development and distribution of
educational materials to help the fishing community
minimize shark interactions including through changed
angler behavior and expectations.
(4) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this section, and every 2 years thereafter until
the termination of the task force in accordance with paragraph
(5), the task force shall submit to Congress a report regarding
the findings of the task force.
(5) Sunset.--The task force shall terminate not later than
7 years after the date on which the Secretary of Commerce
establishes the task force.
(6) Coastal state defined.--In this subsection, the term
``coastal State''--
(A) means a State of the United States in, or
bordering on, the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arctic
Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, or Long Island Sound; and
(B) includes Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the
United States, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.
(b) Shark Depredation Research Projects.--Section 318(c) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C.
1867(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Projects to better understand shark depredation,
including identifying what causes increases in shark
depredation and determining how to best address shark
depredation.''.
(c) Effect.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect
the authority and responsibility of the Secretary of Commerce in
carrying out the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1351 et
seq.) or the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
(16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H240-242)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 207.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H240-241)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H240-241)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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