SHARKED BILL ADVANCES.

The article discusses the increasing problem of shark depredation in sport fishing and the need for action to address this issue. Sharks are drawn to areas where fishing is taking place and learn to take advantage of hooked fish, causing frustration and potential economic losses for anglers. Efforts to rebuild shark populations have been successful, but conflicts between anglers and sharks are expected to increase. The American Sportfishing Association has outlined four pillars to address shark depredation: education, management, policy, and research. Legislation has been introduced in the US House of Representatives to establish a task force to study shark depredation and improve coordination and communication among fisheries managers. The bill, known as the SHARKED Act, has been passed by the House of Representatives and awaits approval from the Senate and the president. Mitigating shark depredation requires a multifaceted approach that considers the value of sharks and the concerns of fishing communities. [Extracted from the article]