Commerce Dept. would lead new shark depredation task force

What does this do?

This bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to form a task force focused on shark depredation, which is when sharks steal or damage fish caught on hooks or in nets. The task force would coordinate research, develop strategies to reduce harmful encounters between sharks and people, and produce educational materials for fishermen. It would automatically end no later than seven years after it is created.

Who does it affect?

The task force would include representatives from regional fishery management councils, state fish and wildlife agencies, marine fisheries commissions, and shark researchers. Commercial and recreational fishermen, coastal state agencies, and federal fisheries managers would be primarily affected.

Why does it matter?

Shark depredation creates friction between sharks and fishing operations, and there is currently no dedicated federal body coordinating research or responses to these encounters. This task force would fill that gap and add shark depredation as an eligible research topic under existing federal fisheries programs.

Where does it stand?