SHARKED Act of 2025
Officially: “SHARKED Act of 2025” Read the full text
What it does
Read it in plain language
1Short title
This section would let the Act be called the Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue Act of 2025, or the SHARKED Act of 2025.
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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 .
2Shark depredation task force and research projects
This section would require the Secretary of Commerce to set up a task force to identify and address critical needs related to shark depredation (sharks eating or damaging fish that anglers have hooked or caught).
Task force membership: the Secretary would appoint one representative from each Regional Fishery Management Council established under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, one representative from each Marine Fisheries Commission (as defined in that Act), one representative from the fish and wildlife agency of a coastal state under each Regional Fishery Management Council, and one representative from the National Marine Fisheries Service. The Secretary would also appoint an individual with expertise in managing highly migratory species, a researcher with expertise in shark management and behavior, and a researcher with expertise in shark ecology.
Task force duties: the task force would have to improve coordination and communication between the fisheries management community and the shark research community on shark depredation; identify research priorities and funding opportunities, including identifying which shark species are involved in interactions, shark stock assessments, how sharks become used to being around humans and end up interacting with them more as a result, how angler behavior and fishery regulations influence shark interactions, techniques and strategies (including non-lethal deterrents) to reduce harmful shark-human interactions, the role healthy shark populations play in the ocean food web, and how climate change affects shifting shark populations, their prey, and their behavior; develop recommended management strategies to address shark depredation; and coordinate developing and distributing educational materials to help the fishing community reduce shark interactions, including by changing angler behavior and expectations.
Reporting and end date: starting no later than 2 years after this section becomes law, and every 2 years after that, the task force would have to submit a report to Congress on its findings, until the task force ends. The task force would end no later than 7 years after the date the Secretary of Commerce creates it.
Coastal state definition: for this task force, a coastal state means a U.S. state on or bordering the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, or Long Island Sound, and also includes Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.
Research project funding: this section would add a new category of project to the list of projects that can be funded under section 318(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act: projects to better understand shark depredation, including identifying what causes increases in shark depredation and determining how to best address it.
No effect on other laws: this section would not change the Secretary of Commerce's existing authority and responsibility to carry out the Endangered Species Act of 1973 or the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
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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. ). Passed the House of Representatives January 21, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.
Where it is
In the House.