Senate Commerce Committee reports Shark Act to full Senate, creates task force on shark depredation

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted June 20 to report S.2314, the Shark Act of 2025, to the full Senate. The chair opened the markup by describing the measure as targeting “shark depredation,” the loss of hooked or caught fish to sharks, and said the bill “would establish a task force to develop practical solutions to help fishermen land their catch before the sharks beat them to it.” The measure, introduced by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), would create a federal task force charged with reviewing instances in which sharks partially or fully consume hooked fish and recommending best practices and technologies to reduce those interactions. Committee members moved to report the bill favorably together with two other measures; the motion was agreed to by voice vote and the Shark Act was ordered to be reported to the Senate. Supporters said the task force would focus on practical, fishery-level approaches; the committee did not adopt a recorded roll-call specific to S.2314 during the consolidated motion. There was no formal recorded amendment or additional funding line adopted on the committee floor during the markup; the text as discussed directs the task force to develop recommendations rather than to mandate a particular regulatory action. The committee’s action moves the bill to the Senate calendar, where further floor consideration, amendment, or referral is possible. The markup did not set a timetable for committee or floor action by the full Senate.