The Supporting the Health of Aquatic Systems Through Research, Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue (SHARKED) Act (HR 207) has been reintroduced into the U.S. House of Representatives. A bipartisan effort, the SHARKED ACT, introduced by Reps. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL), and Marc Veasey (D-TX), would direct NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to create a task force to reduce shark depredation. This reintroduction is building upon the original momentum from the 118th Congress and is being applauded by the sportfishing industry and recreational fishing community. While the SHARKED Act has originally passed the the House in February of 2024, it got stalled in the last Congress.
“Sharks are an important part of our marine ecosystems but angler encounters with sharks have become more frequent, leading to dangerous interactions for both fishermen and sharks,” said Mike Leonard, Vice President of Government Affairs at the American Sportfishing Association. “The relationship between sharks and anglers is complicated and multifaceted, and the SHARKED Act takes steps to start solving problems that will improve the angling experience and support the $230 billion sportfishing industry.”
While sharks taking fish has been something that has always happened, many anglers have noticed a notable uptick in shark depredation in recent years. This largely has been due to the recovering shark populations, more anglers fishing, and complicated management authority between different states, the federal government, and international fisheries treaties. Hopefully, with the SHARKED Act, a meaningful solution and management system can be established.
To learn more on the SHARKED Act and stay up to date on it, check out the ASA (American Sportfishing Association) page here.
In 2022, ASA released a position statement on addressing shark depredation which we hope the task force will use to guide their work. The statement calls for a four-tiered approach to improving shark-angler interactions:
- Educating anglers on how to avoid and respond to shark interactions.
- Consider how shark management measures impact other fisheries and vice versa.
- Policy solutions to reduce shark-human encounters, such as the prohibition of “shark feeding” nationwide.
- Continued research into shark population assessments, depredation frequency and management changes.
ASA and 14 recreational fishing and conservation organizations sent a letter to Congress supporting the SHARKED Act.
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