SHARKED Act Creates Task Force to Study Shark-Fishing Conflicts, Focusing on Non-Lethal Deterrents

The SHARKED Act of 2025—which stands for the Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue Act—is all about tackling a specific problem: sharks interfering with fishing operations, a situation the bill calls "shark depredation." Think of it as a policy response to the viral videos you see of sharks making off with a fisherman’s catch right at the boat.

The core of this legislation is the creation of a new Shark Depredation Task Force under the Secretary of Commerce. This isn't just a bunch of bureaucrats; the task force is designed to bring together everyone involved, including representatives from regional fishery councils, state wildlife agencies, and, crucially, marine scientists specializing in shark behavior and ecology. The goal is to get all these different groups talking and coordinating their approach to this growing conflict.

Why Are Sharks Stealing the Catch?

For the average person, this bill might sound niche, but it affects the cost of seafood and the livelihoods of people working on the water. The task force is mandated to pinpoint exactly why these incidents are increasing. They need to identify which shark species are the main culprits, assess their populations, and figure out how fishing practices themselves might be accidentally training sharks to associate boats with an easy meal. This means funding is specifically authorized to go toward research projects on shark behavior and the causes of these incidents (SEC. 2).

Tech Solutions Over Population Control

One of the most important mandates for this task force is to explore and develop non-lethal deterrents. This is where the policy gets interesting: instead of just figuring out how to reduce shark numbers, the focus is on developing tech or techniques—like specialized gear or acoustic devices—that can keep sharks away from fishing lines without harming them. The bill also requires the task force to consider the role that healthy shark populations play in the ocean food web, a necessary nod to conservation that prevents this from becoming a simple culling operation.

The Management Blind Spot

While the bill heavily emphasizes non-lethal methods and research, there is one part that could be interpreted broadly. The task force is also required to develop "management ideas to tackle the problem." Because this phrase is not fully defined, it leaves a little wiggle room. While the entire spirit of the bill is focused on research and non-lethal solutions, this broad mandate could, in theory, be used to push for more aggressive control measures down the line if the research doesn't yield quick results. However, the requirement to understand the ecological role of sharks acts as a safeguard against this.

What It Means for the Next Seven Years

This task force isn't permanent; it’s set to automatically dissolve after seven years. In the meantime, it has to report its findings to Congress every two years, essentially giving the government a rolling scientific update on what's working and what isn't. Ultimately, the SHARKED Act is a coordinated, science-first approach to solving a real-world problem for the fishing industry. It aims to use targeted research funding and collaboration to reduce conflict on the water, ideally benefiting both the people who catch our fish and the ocean ecosystem itself.