Keith Lusher 02.05.25
As somebody who’s spent most of my life fishing within the Gulf of Mexico and has skilled the big lack of fish from shark depredation, I used to be inspired to see the Home of Representatives cross the SHARKED Act.
The SHARKED Act (Supporting the Well being of Aquatic programs via Analysis, Data, and Enhanced Dialogue) will hopefully result in an actual, tangible plan that addresses the rising problem of shark depredation. (sharks take away hooked fish from fishing traces earlier than retrieval)
Congressman Rob Wittman launched the invoice in 2023 and not too long ago posted on his website, “As a lifelong fisherman and former marine scientist, I’ve seen firsthand how sharks stealing fish impacts our waters and fishing neighborhood.” Like many different anglers who’ve skilled the rising variety of sharks, Wittman appears to know the impression of this drawback.
“It’s nice to see each events working collectively on this difficulty when Washington is normally caught in gridlock,” Congressman Wittman added, urging the Senate to cross the invoice shortly.
The financial toll is critical. Mike Leonard from the American Sportfishing Association places it in perspective, “Saltwater leisure fishing is a large a part of the nation’s financial system, contributing $73.8 billion in gross sales impacts and supporting 487,000 U.S. jobs. In lots of elements of the nation, shark depredation is among the prime considerations of the leisure fishing neighborhood.”
The laws has earned endorsements from a formidable array of organizations, together with the American Fisheries Society, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Center for Sportfishing Policy, Coastal Conservation Association, Guy Harvey Foundation, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, amongst others.
“It is a drawback affecting fishermen throughout the nation,” stated Home Pure Sources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman. “This invoice provides the federal government the instruments to work with native communities to search out actual options.”
Whereas I’m cautiously optimistic, what provides me hope about this invoice is its sensible method. It’s designed to create a workforce of specialists – together with individuals who truly perceive fishing – to check the issue and discover actual options. They’ll take a look at all the pieces from fishing patterns to shark habits, attempting to determine why this drawback has gotten a lot worse and what we are able to do about it.
The invoice gives a seven-year timeline for the duty drive to check the issue and put their plans into motion.
The invoice will now transfer on to the Senate and, if handed, will likely be signed into legislation by the president.
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