Why It Matters: Science-based fisheries management and access to our fisheries have always been at the center of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) mission. In both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, sharks are increasingly intercepting fish being landed by recreational and commercial fishermen, creating frustration for anglers and challenges for fisheries sustainability. Fortunately, a bill that fell just short of passing in the 118th Congress that would create a pathway for exploring science-based solutions to shark depredation has already been reintroduced in the 119th Congress.
Highlights:
- Sharks have become increasingly problematic for recreational and commercial fisheries in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
- The SHARKED Act (R. 207) would establish a task force to explore opportunities to minimize interactions between sharks and anglers.
Shortly after the 119th Congress gaveled in this month, the Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue Act, or SHARKED Act (H.R. 207), was reintroduced by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) members Rep. Rob Wittman (VA) and Rep. Marc Veasey (TX), along with Reps. Darren Soto (FL) and Daniel Webster (FL). The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation(CSF) has been a strong supporter of addressing the shark depredation issue using sound science and the SHARKED Act will provide that opportunity.
In recent years, particularly in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, the frequency of sharks intercepting fish being landed by anglers and commercial fishermen has increased substantially. As apex predators, sharks play an important role in our natural marine ecosystems. However, hooked fish being landed by anglers or commercial fishermen creates an unnatural and easy meal for sharks and exposes them to potentially harmful fishing gear. As the rate of shark depredation has increased, fishermen have become increasingly frustrated by the issue and a continued lack of response from the fisheries management community.
The bipartisan SHARKED Act would simply establish a non-regulatory task force that would be responsible for making recommendations for improving coordination and communication across the fisheries management community on shark depredation, as well as identifying research priorities and funding opportunities.
CSF applauds the quick reintroduction of the SHARKED Act and will work to ensure this bill becomes law so that we can take the first step in addressing the serious and growing problem of shark depredation in recreational fisheries.
