Gulf of Maine Shark Depredation Survey

    Negative interactions with sharks have become a growing problem in the southeast Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico to the point where they are having a significant financial impact on the for-hire sector. Vessels targeting a range of species including tarpon and bonefish, reef fish and pelagics are losing (in some cases up to 90% of) their catch to sharks.

    So far the problem has been less severe in the northeast but a growing number of vessels targeting striped bass are encountering white sharks around Cape Cod, and more recently in Maine. Groundfishing charter and headboats are also experiencing more loss to sharks. Meanwhile, both commercial and recreational tuna fishermen have reported a sizeable increase in shark encounters including loss of bait, hooks and leaders, and catching non-target species.

    NOAA Fisheries continues to collect information used to formulate seasons, bag limits and gear restrictions but have little if any data from the northeast. Please take a few moments to complete the survey below. Your answers will be shared with the National Marine Fisheries Service Highly Migratory Species division.

    The online survey only takes 5-10 minutes to complete. All responses are completely anonymous and confidential.

    For purposes of this survey, a depredation encounter is defined as any interaction that involves sharks where they are not the targeted species, and results in targeted species being chased, bitten, or eaten, or loss of or damage to terminal tackle by sharks.