S. 2314 · 119th Congress · Senate

SHARKED Act of 2025

Active· Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 349.
Introduced
Jul 16, 25
Passed Senate
Pending
Passed House
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue Act of 2025 or the SHARKED Act of 2025

This bill requires the Department of Commerce to establish a task force to address and report to Congress about critical needs with respect to shark depredation. (Shark depredation is the partial or complete removal of a hooked fish by a shark directly from a fishing line before the line is retrieved.)

The duties of the task force are, among other responsibilities, to (1) develop ways to improve coordination and communication across the fisheries management and shark research communities; (2) identify research priorities and funding opportunities; (3) develop recommended management strategies to address shark depredation; and (4) coordinate the development and distribution of educational materials.

The bill specifies that the task force must include representatives of each Regional Fishery Management Council, each Marine Fisheries Commission, the fish and wildlife agencies of coastal states, and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The task force must also include researchers and others with relevant expertise.

The task force must report its findings to Congress within two years after the bill's enactment and every two years thereafter until the task force is terminated. The task force sunsets within seven years after the date of its establishment.  

Previous Versions

00Jul 16, 2025

Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue Act of 2025 or the SHARKED Act of 2025

This bill requires the Department of Commerce to establish a task force to address and report to Congress about critical needs with respect to shark depredation. (Shark depredation is the partial or complete removal of a hooked fish by a shark directly from a fishing line before the line is retrieved.)

The duties of the task force are, among other responsibilities, to (1) develop ways to improve coordination and communication across the fisheries management and shark research communities; (2) identify research priorities and funding opportunities; (3) develop recommended management strategies to address shark depredation; and (4) coordinate the development and distribution of educational materials.

The bill specifies that the task force must include representatives of each Regional Fishery Management Council, each Marine Fisheries Commission, the fish and wildlife agencies of coastal states, and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The task force must also include researchers and others with relevant expertise.

The task force must report its findings to Congress within two years after the bill's enactment and every two years thereafter until the task force is terminated. The task force sunsets within seven years after the date of its establishment.  

Action Timeline

6
  1. MAR 04, 2026Committee

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

    Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-114.

    119Yea
    114Nay
    0NV
  2. MAR 04, 2026Committee

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

    Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-114.

    119Yea
    114Nay
    0NV
  3. MAR 04, 2026Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 349.

  4. JUL 30, 2025Committee

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

    Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

  5. JUL 16, 2025IntroReferral

    Introduced in Senate

  6. JUL 16, 2025IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Committees

3

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

sscm00

Referred: Mar 4, 2026

Active

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

sscm00

Referred: Jul 30, 2025

Active

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

sscm00

Referred: Jul 16, 2025

Active