Supporting the Health of Aquatic Systems Through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter of support for the SHARKED Act, signed by 123 companies and organizations, including the American Sportfishing Association. September 20, 2023. Hon. Rob Wittman, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Garret Graves, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Darren Soto, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Marc Veasey, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Representatives Wittman, Soto, Graves and Veasey: As businesses that have experienced the negative impacts of shark depredation, we are writing to express our support for the Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research, Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue (SHARKED) Act. Collectively we represent charter captains, tackle shop owners, equipment manufacturers, and other sportfishing- related business leaders. Saltwater recreational fishing is a major economic driver in coastal communities throughout the country, with more than 13 million saltwater anglers supporting 595,000 jobs and generating $98 billion in sales every year.

This bill brings focus to the increasing challenge of shark depredation, which negatively impacts fishing experiences, risks the safety of sharks and humans and threatens the sustainability of fish populations.

Shark depredation occurs when a shark eats or damages a hooked fish before an angler can reel in their catch. In general, the possibility of depredation occurring is accepted as a natural part of fishing. However, in recent years the frequency of shark depredation has increased rapidly in many parts of the country, likely due to increasing fishing activity, increasing shark abundance and depredation becoming a more frequently learned behavior.

As some of the nation's leading conservationists, recreational fishermen firmly believe that safeguarding our marine ecosystem is of utmost importance. Sharks play a vital role in maintaining balance in the marine ecosystem. However, shark depredation is escalating to a level that is detrimental to all involved, exposing sharks to potentially harmful fishing gear and putting anglers in dangerously close proximity to these apex predators. As the rate of shark depredation has increased, fishermen have become increasingly frustrated by the issue and a lack of response from the fisheries management community. It is a complex issue with no simple solution, but there are policy, research, management and education tactics that warrant exploration to help mitigate the issue. Shark depredation touches on many federal and state jurisdictions. Unfortunately, because no single entity has responsibility to address it, very little is being done.

The SHARKED Act would establish a task force that would be responsible for improving coordination and communication across the fisheries management community on shark depredation, as well as identifying research priorities and funding opportunities. This bill would be a critical first step toward addressing shark depredation nationally and establishing foundational knowledge that can be used to improve future management, education and research actions.

By implementing efforts to minimize interactions between sharks and anglers, the SHARKED Act will advance conservation for the benefit of sharks, anglers, fisheries and the economy. We are grateful for your support of this bill and for providing a voice to the recreational fishing industry. Sincerely,

Carl Abissi, National Manager, Dexter Outdoors, Southbridge, MA; Steve Atkinson, President, Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association, Midlothian, VA; Hunter Avery, Key Accounts Manager, Jones and Company, Stuart, FL; Eric L Bachnik, President, L&S Bait Company, Largo, FL; Will Benson, Owner, World Angling, Key West, FL; Gregory Bogdan, Owner/Captain, Permitted, Inc., North Palm Beach, FL; Bryan Boyle, Captain, Dedicated, LLC.; Jupiter, FL.

Scott Brown, Owner, Push it Good Inshore Fishing Charters, Destin, FL; Tad Burke, Captain, The Wild Side Guides, Tavernier, FL; Brandon Carter, Owner, Fathom Offshore, Wilmington, NC; Nicholas Castillo, Captain, Castillo Charters, LLC., Islamorada, FL; John Chauvin, Sr., Owner. Fin-tastic Charters, Grand Isle, LA; Louis Chemi, Vice President. Freedom Boat Club, Venice, FL; Dennis Clark, Owner, Frontier Sales and Marketing Group, LLC., Katy, TX.

Eric Cosby, Vice President, Top Brass Tackle, Starkville, MS; John Crews, President/Owner, Missile Baits, Salem, VA; Mike Cyr, Captain, C Hawk Charters, Key West, FL; Bill Dantuono, Owner, Offshore Naples, Naples, FL; Adam Debruin, Captain, Red Hook Fishing, Tavernier, FL; Mike Delzingo, Owner, Fishbucket Sportfishing, Boston, MA; GW De Pauw, Captain, Captain GW Guide Service, Tavernier, FL.

Joe Diebold, Outfitter, Bass Pro, Apollo Beach, FL; Paul Diggins, Owner/Captain, Reel Pursuit Charters, Charlestown, MA; Michael Dixon, Vice President, Engel Coolers, Jupiter, FL; Robert Dufek, Sales Manager, Shimano, Ladson, SC; Aaron Dykes, CEO & Captain, Triple D Charters, Tavernier, FL; Brian Esposito, President, Skiff Guide Charter Service, Hollywood, FL; Drue Eymann, Owner/Captain, Keys on The Fly, LLC., Key West, FL.

Bill Falconer, President/CEO, Anglers Resource, Foley, AL; Richard Fischer, Executive Director, Louisiana Charter Boat Association, Metairie, LA; Tammy Foshee, OEM Manager, GSM Outdoors, Georgetown, GA; Thomas Fote, Legislative Chairman, Jersey Coast Anglers Association, Toms River, NJ; Steve Friedman, Owner, A Fishing Guide, LLC., Islamorada, FL; Patrick Gill, CEO. TackleDirect, Egg Harbor Township, NJ; Austin Glassman, Captain, Gladesman Charters, Tavernier, FL.

Alan Gnann, President, REC Components, Stafford Springs, CT; Lain Goodwin, Owner/Captain, Dirty Waters Charters, Inc., Key Largo, FL; Scott Gregg, Captain/Owner, Wreckless Sport Fishing, Mechanicsville, VA; Mike Guerin, Owner, Capt. Michael Guerin, Big Pine Key, FL; Chris Hanson, Owner, Scales 2 Tales, LLC., Key Largo, FL; Jim Hardin, Government Relations Manager, Grady-White Boats, Inc., Greenville, NC; Richard Hastings, Captain, Capt. Rich Hastings, Islamorada, FL.

Gary Hayes, Owner/Captain, Sunrise South Charter Fishing, Dulac, LA; Patrick Healey, President/CEO, Viking Yacht Co., New Gretna, NJ; Mark Hlis, Owner, Flamingo Charters, Islamorada, FL; Barry Hoffman, Captain, flatsguide.com, Tavernier, FL; Mike Holliday, Captain, Fish Tail Guide Service, Stuart, FL; Houston Hoover, Captain, Gene's Fishing Charters, Gonzales, LA; Dylan Hubbard, Owner/Captain/VP, Hubbard's Marina, Madeira Beach, FL.

Dylan Hubbard, President, Florida Guides Association, Madeira Beach, FL; Buddy Hughes, CEO, Bates Fishing Co., Celina, TX; Robbie Hunziker, Owner, RH Marine, Parrish, FL; Steven Impallomeni, Owner/Captain, Gallopin Ghost Charters, Summerland Key, FL; Rich Johnson, Owner/Operator, Scotty J's Charters, Clearwater, FL; Luke Kelly, Captain, Key Flat Charters, Summerland Key, FL; Doug Kilpatrick, Owner, Capt Doug Kilpatrick Inc, Sugarloaf Key, FL.

Frank-Paul King, President, Temple Fork, Dallas, TX; Luke Krenik, Captain, LVKFL, LLC, Key Largo, Florida; Steve Lavoie, Captain, Capt Lavoie, Tavernier, FL; Mike Leonard, Vice President of Government Affairs, American Sportfishing Association, Alexandria, VA; Phillip Lillo, President, Don Coffey Company, Orlando, FL; Patrick Lynch, CEO, Bionic Bait, Pompano Beach, FL; Putnam Maclean, Captain, Eagle Eye Fishing Co., Marshfield, MA.

Gary Maier, Chief Design Officer, DroneFisher Tackle, Tomball, TX; Michael Manis, Owner/Captain, Punta Gorda Fly Charters, Punta Gorda, FL; Spencer Marchant, Senior Manager, Don Coffey Company, Jupiter, FL; Colby Mason, Mate, Kalex, Islamorada, FL; Chase Masters, Owner, The Chase Fishing Charters, Islamorada, FL; Will McCabe, Captain, Will McCabe Charters, Islamorada, FL; James McGrath, President, Grand Slam Tackle, Riviera Beach, FL.

Daniel Medina, Captain, Salty Fishing Charters, Cape Coral, FL; Andy Mezirow, Owner, Gray Light Fisheries, LLC, Seward, AK; Daniel Miers, Owner/President, King Sailfish Mounts, Fort Lauderdale, FL; Tom Morgan, Captain, Flying Thief Charters, Big Pine Key, FL; Patrick Neukam, Owner, Offshore Addict Charters, Madeira Beach, FL; Andrew Nobregas, Captain, Fishy Business Charters, Tavernier, FL; Daniel Nussbaum, President, Z-Man Fishing Products, Inc., Ladson, SC.

Frank Ortiz, Owner, Capt. Frank Ortiz, Key Largo, FL; William Pappas, Owner/Operator, Playin Hookey Charters, Virginia Beach, VA; Jason Parker, Captain, Reel Steel Fishing, Ocean City, MD; Donald Patnaude, President, Jones & Company, Stuart, FL; Cheryl Pawlak, President, Aquatic Nutrition, Inc., Eustis, FL; David Peck, Captain, Skiligal Charters LLC, Nags Head, NC; Michael Pierdinock, Owner/ Captain, CPF Charters, Plymouth, MA.

Greg Poland, Owner/Captain, Capt. Greg Poland Inc, Islamorada, FL; Matt Ponzio, Captain, Smoking Reels Charters, Fort Myers, FL; Victor Porter, Owner, Chief Charter Fishing, Islamorada, FL; Jason Prieto, President, Steady Action Fishing Charters, Ruskin, FL; Thomas Putnam, President, Half Hitch Tackle, Panama City, FL; Kellie Ralston, Vice President for Conservation and Public Policy, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Tallahassee, FL; Sean Rice, Owner, Lawless Lures, Grenada, MS; Olden Rodrigue, Owner, Coastal Charter Services LLC, Montegut, LA.

Joe Rodriguez, Captain, Fishing Guide Fla keys, Summerland Key, FL; Paul Sabayrac, Owner & Captain, Goin' Raptor Fishing, Juno Beach, FL; Amanda Sabin, VP Marketing, Contender Boats, Ormond Beach, FL; Jonathan Schrier, Owner/ Operator, Shake Your Tail Feather, LLC., Marathon, FL; Peter Schulz, President, Schulz Brothers Fishing Headquarters, Jupiter, FL; Perry Scuderi, Owner/Operator, P.S. Fishing Inc., Islamorada, FL; Robert Shamblin, Vice President, JL Marine Systems, Inc., Valrico, FL.

Anthony Solmo, Owner, Got `Em on Sportfishing Charters, Key West, FL; Ron Stallings, PR/Marketing, TTI-Blakemore, Wetumpka, AL; Brandon Storin, Owner, Bean Sportfishing LLC, Islamorada, FL; Gary Stuve, Captain, Native Guide Jupiter, Jupiter, FL; Larry Sydnor, Captain, Capt. Larry Sydnor, Islamorada, FL; Andrew Tipler, Owner/Captain, Last Cast Charters, Cudjoe Key, FL.

Georgios Toris, Owner, Salta Americas, Inc, West Palm Beach, FL; Chris Trosset, Owner/Operator, Reel Fly Charters, Key West, FL; Brandon Vaughan, Owner, Salty Dog Charters, LLC, St. Petersburg, FL; Russ Walker, Owner/Captain, Tide Walker Charters, Cape Coral, FL; William Walsh, Captain, PJ's Enterprises, Tavernier, FL; Jeff Watkins, Owner, Anchors Away Charters, Port Charlotte, FL.

Ashley Weber, President/Owner, Ashley Weber Art, Inc., Rockledge, FL; Leonard Weinbaum, Owner, L. W. Fine Arts, Keystone Heights, FL; Nathan Weinbaum, President, KeysXplorer, Islamorada, FL; Bryan Williams, Sales Representative, Shimano, Wilmington, NC; Holly Williams, President/CEO, Cablz, Birmingham, AL; Chris Wilson, Owner, Rivers End Outfitters, LLC, Belle Chasse, LA.

Edward Wilson, Owner/Operator, Captain Ted Wilson Charter Fishing, Islamorada, FL; Jerry Winton, National Sales Manager, Winton Electronics, Manasquan, NJ; Billy Wood, Captain, Mine Time LLC, Key Largo, FL; Shane Wood, Owner, Shane Wood Charters, Sugarloaf Key, FL; Alex Zapata, Owner, Silver King Charters, Miami, FL; Ed Zyak, Captain, Captain Ed Zyak Fishing, Jensen Beach, FL.

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Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge support of my bill, H.R. 4051, the Supporting the Health of Aquatic Systems through Research Knowledge, and Enhanced Dialogue Act, also known as the SHARKED Act.

Picture this: A charter boat fisherman takes a group of excited anglers 90 miles off the coast in hopes of reeling in a yellow fin tuna, a snapper, or grouper, or even ensure reeling in a tarpon.

One of the individuals hooks the first fish and starts to fight to reel it in. However, before the fish ever gets to the boat, sharks have completely consumed the fish, all the way up to the gill plates.

This phenomenon is called depredation, which occurs when sharks interfere with fishing activities.

Shark depredation is accepted as a natural part of fishing, but it has become a widespread issue in our waters and has increased rapidly in recent years.

During the House Natural Resources Committee hearing for the SHARKED Act, we heard from experts discussing the impact of this phenomenon.

According to the American Sportfishing Association, 52.4 million people went fishing in the United States, supporting 826,000 jobs and contributing $129 billion to the economy.

The American Sportfishing Association also found that 87 percent of charter guides surveyed said they experienced depredation with clients, resulting in negative impacts on their businesses.

Anglers are losing their catch and tackle to sharks at alarming rates, and they are understandably becoming increasingly frustrated by it.

Mr. Speaker, I introduced the SHARKED Act to study this issue, evaluate how we can improve sportfishing conditions for anglers while protecting sharks.

This bill establishes a fisheries management task force to focus on identifying research opportunities, recommending management strategies, and developing educational materials for fishermen.

This legislation will help fishermen understand which species of sharks have higher rates of depredation and where you are most likely to run into that species.

It will serve first as a major step in improving communication and coordination among fisheries managers in addressing shark depredation nationwide.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to passing this bill through the committee and further consideration on the floor, which is where we are today. It has been a great process.

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