[Pages H400-H403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

SUPPORTING THE HEALTH OF AQUATIC SYSTEMS THROUGH RESEARCH KNOWLEDGE AND
ENHANCED DIALOGUE ACT

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4051) to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a
task force regarding shark depredation, and for other purposes, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 4051

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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
(iv) the National Marine Fisheries Service;
(B) an individual with expertise in the management of
highly migratory species;
(C) a researcher with expertise in shark management and
behavior; and
(D) a researcher with expertise in shark ecology.
(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--
(i) identifying shark species involved in interactions;
(ii) shark stock assessments;
(iii) how sharks become habituated to humans and thus lead
to more interactions between sharks and humans;
(iv) how angler behavior and fishery regulatory frameworks
may influence shark interactions;
(v) techniques and strategies to reduce harmful
interactions between sharks and humans, including the
development and use of non-lethal deterrents;
(vi) the role of healthy shark populations in the ocean
food web; and
(vii) climate change impacts on shifting shark populations,
prey, and shark behavior;
(C) develop recommended management strategies to address
shark depredation; and
(D) coordinate the development and distribution of
educational materials to help the fishing community minimize
shark interactions including through changed angler behavior
and expectations.
(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.
(6) Coastal state defined.--In this subsection, the term
``coastal State''--
(A) means a State of the United States in, or bordering on,
the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Gulf of
Mexico, or Long Island Sound; and
(B) includes Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United
States, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, and American Samoa.
(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:
``(6) Projects to better understand shark depredation,
including identifying what causes increases in shark
depredation and determining how to best address shark
depredation.''.
(c) Effect.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
affect the authority and responsibility

[[Page H401]]

of the Secretary of Commerce in carrying out the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 or the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs.
Dingell) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.

General Leave

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H.R. 4051, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4051, sponsored
by my friend and colleague, Congressman Rob Wittman of Virginia.
Concerns over shark depredation are increasingly common. From
fishermen in the Florida Keys and throughout the Gulf of Mexico whose
prized snapper or grouper catch was eaten by a shark, to charter boat
captains in North Carolina's Outer Banks fishing offshore, shark
interactions can be frustrating for anglers as they result in loss of
catch, damaged gear, and degraded fishing experiences, and may also
impact the post-release survival of target fish.
While the number of reports of depredation have increased, the
underlying cause of the increase remains uncertain. It could be due to
an increase in the number of sharks, as stocks rebuild, or learned
behavior by sharks as they recognize motors, fishing techniques, or
shark-feeding locations as a source of food.
We simply do not have enough information.
To make matters worse, shark depredation touches on many Federal and
State jurisdictions, but because no single entity has a responsibility
to address it, very little is being done.
H.R. 4051 would require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a task
force to address shark depredation.
The task force membership would include representatives from Regional
Fishery Management Councils, the Marine Fisheries Commissions, the
State fish and wildlife agencies from the States within the Regional
Fishery Management Councils, NOAA, and shark experts from the Fisheries
Service, and non-Federal experts.
During committee consideration of this legislation, the minority
worked closely with two of the bill's sponsors, Mr. Wittman and Mr.
Graves, to make modest changes by including more engagement with the
scientific community engaged in shark research and clarifying that the
findings and work done by the task force do not impact the Secretary of
Commerce's responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act or the
Magnuson-Stevens Act.
The legislation will help the Federal Government further understand,
identify, and address critical needs as they relate to shark
depredation.
I applaud Mr. Wittman for his work on this bill, and I urge my
colleagues to support the legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4051, the SHARKED Act, would establish a new task
force led by the National Marine Fisheries Service to identify shark
conservation needs and depredation research.
Sharks are critical to healthy ocean ecosystems.
As the apex predators of the ocean, they help shape marine food webs
and are a key indicator of ocean health.
Many shark species are, unfortunately, also threatened or endangered.
Oceanic sharks and rays have declined by 71 percent since 1970, and
three-quarters of these wide-ranging species are threatened.
While some shark populations are recovering, scientists predict that
nearly 100 million sharks are still killed each year, and current
levels of fishing pressure will cause the majority of shark populations
to continue declining.
According to the IUCN, half of the coastal sharks and rays are
threatened with extinction, primarily due to overfishing.
A fundamental lack of understanding of shark biology and ecological
importance, combined with fear, was partially responsible for dramatic
increases in the recreational harvest of sharks in the United States in
the 1970s and the 1980s.
Any effort to address shark depredation, therefore, needs to be
considered in light of recovering shark populations and the threats
that sharks face from heightened fishing pressure and climate change.
Through the committee process, we have been able to significantly
improve this legislation. However, I recognize there are still some
legitimate concerns about whether this legislation goes far enough to
ensure good outcomes for shark populations and is not a slippery slope
towards increasing shark harvests.

I am grateful that the majority worked with us to amend the original
bill text, ensuring that the focus is placed on changing angler
behavior and managing expectations, as well as building out the
scientific understanding of shark ecology and the impacts of climate
change on predators and prey in the ocean.
Recently, Australian researchers found that the use of non-lethal
deterrents and simple changes in angler behavior are proven to reduce
the probability of sharks taking fish by 65 percent.
NOAA has funded similar studies in the United States but admitted in
the legislative hearing on this bill that depredation research is
complex and requires sustained investment due to the high intelligence
and adaptability of sharks.
Notably, this bill doesn't include funding. Without it, NOAA will be
unable to fund much more than what they are currently doing to address
shark conservation and depredation.
I hope my colleagues who support this bill will also work with us to
ensure robust funding for shark conservation priorities, like increased
shark stock assessments.
This bill should promote greater collaboration between the fishing
community and shark researchers to reduce risks to sharks and humans
from depredation events and build out our understanding of the
importance of sharks and how to conserve them.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Wittman), the bill's sponsor.
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

[[Page H402]]

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.

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

[[Page H403]]

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.

{time} 1645

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.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am
prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have experienced what Mr. Wittman was
talking about; you know, excited to be reeling in a fish, and you get
it to the boat, and you maybe have a couple of lips and an eyeball and
part of a gill. That is all that is left. I don't get to fish offshore
that much, but I can tell you it can be disappointing, and that is why
it is important to do this research.
I appreciate the gentleman bringing the bill before us.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr.
Graves), who is quite the fisherman himself.
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, nothing ruins a great day like
the tax man. Nothing ruins a great day like the tax man, and I am not
talking about the IRS. I am talking about when you are out there
fishing, and you have this big shark that just comes up and takes your
catch.
You have great fishermen like Mr. Wittman and Mr. Westerman, and
maybe it is not that big of a deal; your next cast you are going catch
another one. But you have people out there who don't know what they are
doing, like Mr. Joyce of Ohio; it is a whole other thing. You just
ruined his day.
What happens is--as Mr. Wittman clearly laid out--you will be out
there, and you may be on a red snapper, you may be out there in some
mangrove, and you are just catching fish; that is dinner.
This is an amazing experience. As Mr. Wittman noted, this is about
economic activity all across the coastal United States. One of the
biggest gaps, one of the biggest voids in our ability to properly
manage fisheries is knowing more, knowing better about the impact of
this apex predator, the shark.
I want to be very clear. This bill is not about culling species. It
is not about killing sharks. What it is about is simply ensuring that
we have the right data, that we have the right understanding to build
properly managed fisheries, and to be able to ensure we can promote
avoidance techniques to prevent this depredation from occurring.
I thank the gentleman from Virginia, who is an expert in this field,
Mr. Wittman, and I thank Mr. Soto and Mr. Veasey, some of the
cosponsors on this legislation, for their support, but this is all
about improving the accuracy of fish management.
It benefits recreational fisheries, it benefits commercial fisheries,
and, most importantly, Mr. Speaker, it benefits the sustainable
fisheries, the sustainable stocks of some of these important areas like
the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico, and other areas.
Again, I thank my friend from Virginia for his hard work on this
legislation. I thank Chairman Westerman for working with us and some of
the great staff on his team, Vivian and Sandra. I thank Anderson on our
staff, as well as Rachel on Ranking Member Grijalva's staff for their
work in coming together to make sure that we have the right balance
here.
This is all about ensuring that for generations to come that our
children and our grandchildren can enjoy the same experiences that we
have for many, many years.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I am
prepared to close, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am sure living in Florida you have
probably stood on the edge of a boat and asked that question: Why? Why
did a shark eat my fish? What was it that motivated it? Is it because
there are too many sharks? Is it something I did? It leaves you with
this empty feeling.
This legislation is here to answer that question. It is simple
legislation. It creates 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.
Again, I commend Congressman Wittman for his tireless work on
fisheries issues and for his work on this bipartisan legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4051, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

____________________