This bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to collect and publish standardized, up-to-date geospatial data on fishing and recreational vessel restrictions in federally managed ocean areas.
Russell Fry
Representative
SC-7
The Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act directs the Secretary of Commerce to collect and publish comprehensive, up-to-date information on fishing restrictions in federally managed fisheries on a public website. This legislation also mandates the standardization of geospatial data related to ocean activities and marine protected areas. The goal is to improve accessibility and interoperability of critical ocean use information for the public, while explicitly preserving existing regulatory authority and Tribal rights.
New Maritime Data Bill to Launch Real-Time Digital Maps for Fishing and Boating Restrictions by 2028
The Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act is a digital-first push to stop the guesswork involved in heading out onto the water. Within four years, the Secretary of Commerce is required to launch a public website that maps out exactly where you can and cannot fish, boat, or dive. Instead of digging through dense PDFs or outdated government notices, the bill mandates that this data be compatible with the mobile apps and electronic charts that most modern mariners already use. For anyone who has ever been worried about accidentally wandering into a protected zone or a seasonal closure, this bill aims to put that info right on your smartphone.
A Digital Dashboard for the Deep Blue
Under Section 1, the government must start publishing specific geographic data on fishing restrictions, including the exact species affected and the legal authority behind the rules. This isn't just a static list; the bill requires updates at least every 24 hours for daily restrictions and real-time updates for the boundaries of marine protected areas. For a charter boat captain or a weekend angler, this means knowing before you leave the dock if a specific reef is closed due to a sudden harmful algal bloom or a new seasonal regulation. The bill also sets aside $2 million annually through 2028 to make sure the tech side of this actually gets built.
Clearing the Wake for Recreation
Section 4 of the bill expands the focus beyond just fishing to include general recreation. It requires the publication of data regarding motorized propulsion limits—basically telling you if your boat's horsepower or fuel type is banned in a specific area—and identifies zones restricted for safety or environmental reasons. For a family planning a diving trip or a jet ski outing, the website must be designed to be 'findable and reusable,' including a notification system that pings you when new data is available. It’s essentially trying to bring the convenience of GPS traffic alerts to the exclusive economic zone.
The Fine Print on Privacy and Power
While the bill pushes for transparency, it includes specific guardrails in Sections 4 and 6 to protect sensitive info. The government is prohibited from publishing the location of shipwrecks or cultural sites to prevent looting, and proprietary data from commercial fishing operations stays off the public map. Crucially, the bill is a 'data-only' move; it explicitly states it does not give the government new powers to create more restrictions or change the legal definition of navigable waters. It’s about mapping the rules that already exist, though the 'medium' vagueness regarding 'other information the Secretary determines necessary' means the government has some wiggle room on what else they might track in the future.