NOAA Fisheries recently announced the formation of a new committee to focus on understanding and mitigating shark depredation, and to develop a strategic plan to address the issue.
The federal fisheries agency recognizes that commercial fishermen and recreational anglers alike are increasingly concerned about economic losses and lost catch from shark depredation. “Stock assessments, acoustic tagging, and research are underway with an overarching goal of developing management approaches that benefit both fishermen and sharks,” NOAA stated in announcing the formation of its new Shark Depredation Strategy Committee led by the following key members:
- Laura Grimm, NOAA Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere
- Dr. Evan Howell, NOAA Fisheries Deputy Assistant Administrator for Scientific Programs
- Dr. John Carlson, Special Advisor for Shark Depredation to the Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere
- Kelly Denit, Director of NOAA Fisheries Office of Sustainable Fisheries
According to NOAA Fisheries, the number of active commercial shark fishermen has declined over the last decade, and most recreational anglers practice catch and release fishing for sharks. NOAA Fisheries is in the process of considering and implementing science-based regulatory adjustments in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of America that align shark catch limits with the latest stock assessments and increase operational flexibility for commercial and recreational stakeholders.
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