H.R. 207

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 207 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 207

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 22, 2025

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a task force regarding 
shark depredation, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting the Health of Aquatic 
systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue Act of 2025'' 
or the ``SHARKED Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. SHARK DEPREDATION TASK FORCE AND RESEARCH PROJECTS.

(a) Shark Depredation Task Force.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce shall establish 
a task force (referred to in this subsection as the ``task 
force'') to identify and address critical needs with respect to 
shark depredation.
(2) Membership.--The Secretary of Commerce shall appoint 
individuals to the task force, including--
(A) 1 representative from--
(i) each Regional Fishery Management 
Council established under section 302(a)(1) of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852(a)(1));
(ii) each Marine Fisheries Commission, as 
such term is defined in section 3 of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802);
(iii) the fish and wildlife agency of a 
coastal State from each Regional Fishery 
Management Council established under section 
302(a)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1852(a)(1)); and
(iv) the National Marine Fisheries Service;
(B) an individual with expertise in the management 
of highly migratory species;
(C) a researcher with expertise in shark management 
and behavior; and
(D) a researcher with expertise in shark ecology.
(3) Responsibilities.--The task force shall--
(A) develop ways to improve coordination and 
communication across the fisheries management community 
and shark research community to address shark 
depredation;
(B) identify research priorities and funding 
opportunities for such priorities, including--
(i) identifying shark species involved in 
interactions;
(ii) shark stock assessments;
(iii) how sharks become habituated to 
humans and thus lead to more interactions 
between sharks and humans;
(iv) how angler behavior and fishery 
regulatory frameworks may influence shark 
interactions;
(v) techniques and strategies to reduce 
harmful interactions between sharks and humans, 
including the development and use of non-lethal 
deterrents;
(vi) the role of healthy shark populations 
in the ocean food web; and
(vii) climate change impacts on shifting 
shark populations, prey, and shark behavior;
(C) develop recommended management strategies to 
address shark depredation; and
(D) coordinate the development and distribution of 
educational materials to help the fishing community 
minimize shark interactions including through changed 
angler behavior and expectations.
(4) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this section, and every 2 years thereafter until 
the termination of the task force in accordance with paragraph 
(5), the task force shall submit to Congress a report regarding 
the findings of the task force.
(5) Sunset.--The task force shall terminate not later than 
7 years after the date on which the Secretary of Commerce 
establishes the task force.
(6) Coastal state defined.--In this subsection, the term 
``coastal State''--
(A) means a State of the United States in, or 
bordering on, the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arctic 
Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, or Long Island Sound; and
(B) includes Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the 
United States, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.
(b) Shark Depredation Research Projects.--Section 318(c) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1867(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Projects to better understand shark depredation, 
including identifying what causes increases in shark 
depredation and determining how to best address shark 
depredation.''.
(c) Effect.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect 
the authority and responsibility of the Secretary of Commerce in 
carrying out the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1351 et 
seq.) or the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).

Passed the House of Representatives January 21, 2025.

Attest:

KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

Clerk.