IB 
Union Calendar No. 301 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4051 
[Report No. 118–368] 
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a task force regarding 
shark depredation, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 12, 2023 
Mr. WITTMAN (for himself, Mr. SOTO, Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana, and Mr. 
VEASEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources 
JANUARY 30, 2024 
Additional sponsors: Mr. PAPPAS and Mr. WEBSTER of Florida 
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 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 12, 2023] 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives 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 En-
hanced Dialogue Act’’ or the ‘‘SHARKED Act’’. 
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 sub-
section 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, includ-
ing— 
(A) 1 representative from— 
(i) each Regional Fishery Management 
Council established under section 302(a)(1) 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conserva-
tion and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1852(a)(1)); 
(ii) each Marine Fisheries Commis-
sion, as such term is defined in section 3 of 
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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 sec-
tion 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 manage-
ment 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; 
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(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 popu-
lations in the ocean food web; and 
(vii) climate change impacts on shift-
ing shark populations, prey, and shark be-
havior; 
(C) 
develop 
recommended 
management 
strategies to address shark depredation; and 
(D) coordinate the development and dis-
tribution 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 
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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 Sec-
retary of Commerce establishes the task force. 
(6) COASTAL
STATE
DEFINED.—In this sub-
section, 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 Is-
land 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 Conserva-
tion and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1867(c)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) Projects to better understand shark depreda-
tion, including identifying what causes increases in 
shark depredation and determining how to best ad-
dress shark depredation.’’. 
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(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. 
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Union Calendar No. 301 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4051 
[Report No. 118–368] 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a 
task force regarding shark depredation, and for 
other purposes. 
JANUARY 30, 2024 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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