The SHARKED Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of Commerce to create a Shark Depredation Task Force. The task force will include representatives from each Regional Fishery Management Council, each Marine Fisheries Commission, a coastal State fish and wildlife agency for each Regional Council, the National Marine Fisheries Service, an expert in highly migratory species, a researcher in shark management and behavior, and a researcher in shark ecology. The task force must identify and address needs related to shark depredation, set research priorities, develop management recommendations, and coordinate educational materials for the fishing community. It must report to Congress within 2 years of its start and every 2 years until it ends. The task force will end no later than 7 years after it is established. The bill also amends section 318(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to add research projects specifically to better understand shark depredation. The bill states that nothing in it changes the Secretary of Commerce's duties under the Endangered Species Act or the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
No publicly available information on estimated costs or funding authorizations is included in the bill text.
No publicly available information on proponents' statements is included in the bill text. The bill's title and provisions show a focus on researching shark depredation, improving coordination among fisheries and shark researchers, and sharing guidance with the fishing community.
No publicly available information on opponents' statements or objections is included in the bill text.