Directs the Secretary of Commerce to set up a task force on shark depredation, the damage sharks cause to fishing catches and gear, and adds shark depredation research to the list of projects eligible for funding under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Official title: SHARKED Act of 2025

Next stop Senate floor: awaiting a vote

Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions

Senate

Introduced 16-JUL-2025

Referred 16-JUL-2025

Approved by committee 30-JUL-2025

Reported 04-MAR-2026

On the calendar 04-MAR-2026

Key points

Requires the Secretary of Commerce to appoint a task force of regional fishery council, state wildlife agency, federal fisheries service, and shark science representatives
Tasks the task force with recommending research priorities, management strategies, and educational materials for anglers, and with reporting to Congress every 2 years
Sets the task force to end no later than 7 years after it is established
Adds projects to better understand and address shark depredation to the research projects authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Act
States that nothing in the bill changes the Secretary's authority under the Endangered Species Act or the Magnuson-Stevens Act

AI-generated from the Reported to Senate text of 04-MAR-2026 · verify · report an error

Official CRS summary

Current. The Congressional Research Service's summary covers the bill's latest wording (Reported to Senate, 04-MAR-2026).

CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.gov

Committee referrals (1)

Policy area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor Rick Scott (R-FL) Cosponsors · 2

■ 1 R■ 1 D

1 Republican

1 Democrat