Union Calendar No. 301
118th CONGRESS 2d Session |
[Report No. 118–368]
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a task force regarding shark depredation, and for other purposes.
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 Committee 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]
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a task force regarding shark depredation, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced 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 subsection 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, 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)); and
(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—
(iii) how sharks become habituated to humans and thus lead to more interactions between sharks and humans;
(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.
(b) Shark depredation research projects.—Section 318(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1867(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Union Calendar No. 301 | |||||
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[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 Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed |