Shark Depredation Triples in Gulf, Southeast Atlantic
NOAA Fisheries analysis finds sharks increasingly stealing bait and catch from longline anglers over two decades.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Fishing
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A NOAA Fisheries analysis found shark depredation rates tripled in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Atlantic over 20 years. U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation, including the SHARKED Act and the Florida Safe Seas Act, to address the problem.
Why it matters
Depredation damages fishing gear and reduces catch for anglers who rely on longline fishing in these waters. The rise also prompted federal and state action, with the Trump administration tasking a fishery council with addressing it.
Scientists verified 1,508 depredation events, and sharks accounted for 99 percent of events where the predator could be identified. The rate fell to around 5 percent in 2025, though the data does not yet explain why.
The players
NOAA Fisheries
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's fisheries arm manages and monitors U.S. marine fish stocks and conducts scientific surveys of fishing impacts.
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
A regional federal fishery council that develops management plans for federal fisheries off the Southeast Atlantic coast.
The details
Sandbar, blacktip, bull, and tiger sharks were the most common depredating species. The survey covers waters from Brownsville, Texas, to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and targets sharks, red snapper, grouper, and golden tilefish.
Timeline
2005: The Southeast Fisheries Science Center began collecting depredation data.
2024: The depredation rate peaked near 7 percent.
2025: The rate dropped to around 5 percent.
July: The administration tasked the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council with addressing depredation.
Culture Shift
The depredation trend recorded by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center's bottom longline survey since 2005 now underpins federal policy responses. Anglers in the Gulf and Southeast Atlantic face a shifting balance between shark populations and recreational fishing.
Anglers fishing longlines in the Gulf and Southeast Atlantic may lose bait and catch to sharks at higher rates. Changes to fishing regulations from the South Atlantic council or new federal legislation could affect how recreational and commercial anglers operate.
The takeaway
Anglers working these waters can expect shark interactions to remain a practical concern while researchers continue studying the causes. Staying informed about council decisions and new rules can help fishers adapt their gear and tactics.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore more Fishing stories on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Seafoodsource.
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Do you think shark encounters while fishing in the Gulf are becoming more common?
