SHARKED Act of 2025
Introduced July 16, 2025 · Last action March 4, 2026
Plain English Summary
This bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a task force to study and address shark depredation—unwanted interactions between sharks and commercial fisheries. The task force will research shark behavior, develop management strategies, and create educational materials for fishers. The task force will operate for up to 7 years and submit reports to Congress every 2 years.
Who benefits
Commercial and recreational fishers in coastal regions who experience shark interactions; fishing industry associations and regional fishery management councils seeking research funding and management guidance; shark research scientists and marine biology researchers who gain funding opportunities; coastal state fish and wildlife agencies that participate in task force decisions; NOAA Fisheries Service which receives a coordination mandate.
Who pays / loses
U.S. taxpayers who fund task force operations and research projects; shark populations if management strategies prioritize fisher interests over shark conservation (though the bill preserves Endangered Species Act protections); fishing communities that may need to change practices based on educational outreach.
Funding & Lobbying Interests
The bill authorizes but does not appropriate funds. Financial interests backing this legislation include: commercial fishing industry groups and fishing associations (who experience economic losses from shark damage to equipment and catch); recreational fishing organizations; coastal state fishing industries; marine research institutions and universities that conduct fisheries science (who benefit from research funding authorization); regional fishing councils whose members rely on fish stocks. The bill's sponsors are Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), both representing states with significant fishing industries and shark interaction incidents.
Political Impact
Affected Groups
Commercial fishers in Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Arctic coastal regions who report increasing shark depredation on fishing gear and catch; recreational anglers in coastal states; fishing-dependent communities in coastal counties, particularly in Florida, Hawaii, California, and other regions with high shark populations; Indigenous fishing communities in territories including Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.
Political Subtext
Proponents, primarily from coastal fishing states, argue this bill addresses a real problem: fishers report increasing shark interactions damaging equipment and reducing catches, particularly as shark populations recover under Endangered Species Act protections. They contend that research and non-lethal deterrents will reduce economic losses while respecting shark conservation. Critics and conservation advocates may argue the bill implicitly prioritizes fisher interests over shark ecology and could lead to population management strategies that weaken protections for recovering shark species. The bill's bipartisan sponsorship (Scott and Schatz) reflects agreement across fishing regions that the issue merits federal research attention. No non-partisan fiscal analysis or CBO scoring is available in the bill text.
Real-World Stakes
If this passes: A federal task force will systematically study shark-fisher interactions and develop coordinated management approaches across U.S. fisheries, potentially leading to deterrent technologies or fishing practice changes. Research funding may accelerate development of non-lethal shark deterrents (acoustic devices, magnetic systems, repellents) that some fishing operations already deploy. The bill preserves existing Endangered Species Act authority, meaning shark management cannot override protections for threatened or endangered species. Historical precedent: Florida's shark depredation task force (established by state law) documented increased interactions but found they represent a small percentage of total fishing losses; other coastal states have funded shark research programs with mixed effectiveness in reducing conflicts. The task force's educational mandate could shift fisher practices similarly to how marine spatial planning has altered fishing patterns in other regions, though documented economic impacts of such changes vary by region and species.
Sponsor
Sponsor information not available.
Vote Record
No recorded votes.
Campaign Finance — Primary Sponsor
No campaign finance data available yet.
501(c)(4) disclosure: Contributions from 501(c)(4) "dark money" organizations are not required to be publicly disclosed and are not reflected in the figures above. Data sourced from FEC public disclosure filings.
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