Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue Act

To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a task force regarding shark depredation, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue Act SHARKED Act 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 (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) (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) (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 Act shall be construed to affect the authority and responsibility of the Secretary of Commerce in carrying out the Endangered Species Act of 1973 or the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. January 30, 2024 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue Act or the SHARKED Act This bill establishes requirements to address shark depredation (i.e., consumption of a fishing catch by a shark before it is retrieved by a fisherman). Specifically, the bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a task force to identify and address critical needs with respect to shark depredation. The task force must terminate within seven years. When making funds available under its cooperative research and management program, NOAA must also prioritize projects related to understanding shark depredation.