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Milton erupts into Category 1 hurricane as Southeast reels from Helene aftermath; Last day to register in AZ focuses on voters with disabilities; Colorado one of 23 states to allow in-person registration on Election Day; Ohio's evolving landscape of student activism.

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MS anglers demand action as shark depredation challenges rise

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Wednesday, August 14, 2024   

Along the Gulf Coast, Mississippi anglers are concerned about sharks stealing their catch, or what's known as shark depredation.

The resurgence of shark populations is affecting fishing across the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast.

Marcus Drymon, associate extension professor at Mississippi State University and marine fisheries specialist for the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, said the issue has become critical in the Magnolia State, where people report sharks biting hooked fish before the angler can even retrieve them.

"In Mississippi, anglers are experiencing increased frustration with reports that depredation had been increasing over the past several years," Drymon noted. "Depredation affects charter fishermen, it affects private recreational fishermen, and it affects commercial fishermen."

Drymon pointed out they are exploring new technologies and fishing methods to prevent sharks from interfering with fishing activities. Sport fishing is a big part of the Mississippi economy, with $386 million in sales and related activity, and it supports more than 3,800 jobs, according to an American Sportfishing Association report.

Chris Macaluso, director of the Center for Marine Fisheries for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, said the increase in depredation is due to shark conservation efforts in the past few decades. Legislation, known as the SHARKED Act, passed the U.S. House earlier this year and is making its way to a Senate committee. It aims to guide future actions based on science.

"Very simply, what it would do is create a scientific panel," Macaluso explained. "It would ramp up the amount of scientific knowledge and the sharing of knowledge and the gathering of scientific data when it comes to shark populations, to see if there are some management changes that could take place that would reduce these negative encounters with sharks."

Macaluso emphasized the importance of maintaining healthy fish populations, and acknowledged the difficulty in reducing shark interactions with fishermen. He suggested more federal funding, enhancing coordination between state and federal fisheries managers and educating recreational fishermen on how to avoid shark encounters all could help alleviate the issue.

Disclosure: The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Endangered Species and Wildlife, Environment, and Public Lands/Wilderness. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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