We, the undersigned—a coalition of divers, surfers, kayakers, fishermen, swimmers and ocean recreationists write to express our urgent concern regarding the SHARKED Act (H.R. 207 / S. 2314). While the bill is framed as a research initiative to address “shark depredation,” we fear it serves as a legislative “Trojan Horse” for the recreational fishing lobby to roll back decades of shark conservation.
Read MoreSHARKED Act in Senate Committee- Act Now
Reintroduced into the House in spring 2024, the Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue Act of 2025 is supported by the recreational fishing industry and lobby bemoaning shark depredation on their catch. The bill could could have serious impacts on shark populations in all US waters. While ostensibly having Congress create a task force to examine shark depredation and human interactions, it has the potential to open protected areas or fishing for sharks. Without little scientific merit or credible support, the SHARKED Act language is a thinly veiled approach to open fishing on protected species and greenlight shark culls, tournaments and sportfishing for sharks in US waters.
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