Alexandria, VA. – January 13, 2025 – The sportfishing industry and recreational fishing community applaud the reintroduction of the Supporting the Health of Aquatic Systems Through Research, Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue (SHARKED) Act (HR 207) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Building on the momentum from the 118th Congress, we are encouraged to see this critical legislation given such early recognition in the new session.
The bipartisan SHARKED Act, introduced by Reps. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL) and Marc Veasey (D-TX), directs NOAA to establish a task force to reduce shark depredation, or the consumption of all or part of a hooked fish before the angler can reel in their catch. If enacted, the bill will convene fisheries managers and shark experts to improve coordination and communication across the fisheries management community. This task force will also identify research priorities and funding opportunities.
“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 the possibility of depredation has always existed, the frequency has increased rapidly in recent years, largely due to recovering shark populations, increased angler activity and complicated management authority between states, the federal government and international fisheries treaties.
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.
The SHARKED Act passed the House of Representatives in February 2024 but stalled in the Senate during the last Congress. We look forward to working with legislators and fisheries managers to develop thoughtful and meaningful solutions to this challenge.
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