Have you ever got that big catch up to the boat just in time to have a predator take a huge chuck before you can land it? Shark encounters are increasing throughout the United States. In addition to the frustrations that sharks cause among anglers, there is also a worry that they can negatively impact fisheries, leading to stricter regulations intended to offset or avoid shark interactions. Sharks are drawn to an area by the sound of boat engines and quickly learn to take advantage of hooked tuna, snapper or sailfish, turning them into an easy meal.

While shark populations were previously reduced due to overfishing, management efforts have succeeded in rebuilding many shark stocks under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Conflicts between anglers and sharks are expected to further increase as shark populations continue to improve, requiring fishery managers and scientists to collaborate with the recreational fishing community on solutions that incorporate science and management policies.

"Sharked Act" is a legislative effort to help fisheries and sportsmen. The ASA (American Sportfishing Association) believes that fishery managers and the recreational fishing community must work together on solutions that proactively address shark depredation. The Bill passed in the House of Representatives in February and directs NOAA to create a task force to study shark depredation, which is the consumption of a fishing catch by a shark before it is retrieved by a fisherman.