Ocean Data Overhaul: New Law Mandates Public Maps of Fishing Closures and Boating Rules by 2028

The newly proposed Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act is essentially a massive government cleanup effort for ocean data. This bill requires the Department of Commerce to standardize and publish location data about federal waters, making it easier for anyone—from weekend anglers to commercial captains—to know exactly where they can go and what they can do. Within 31 months, the government needs to set clear, common rules for sharing geospatial data related to fishing restrictions and recreational boating access in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)—the ocean area just beyond state control.

Where Can I Fish? The New Public Map

If you’ve ever tried to figure out the exact boundaries of a protected marine area or a seasonal fishing closure, you know how frustrating it can be wading through government websites and outdated charts. This bill aims to fix that. By four years after enactment (around 2028), the Secretary must put all this information on one public website. This isn’t just a static map; it will show the exact boundaries of all federally protected marine areas, the conditions that trigger fishing restrictions (like closures due to harmful algal blooms), and any rules limiting motorized recreational vessels, such as engine power restrictions. The goal is to make all this data 'findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable,' with most information updated at least twice a year, and protected area status updated in real-time.

The Real-World Impact on Your Weekend Trip

For the average person who uses the ocean—whether you’re taking your family boat out, chartering a fishing trip, or just paddling near a coastal national monument—this means less guesswork and more certainty. Imagine planning a trip and being able to instantly pull up a map on your phone that shows precisely where the no-fishing zone starts and ends, or where engine restrictions kick in. This increased transparency should reduce accidental violations and save time. The bill also requires the government to coordinate across agencies like the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers, which should streamline the data collection process and ensure everyone is working off the same map.

Protecting the Fine Print: Who Pays the Cost?

While the bill is all about transparency, it draws a few important lines in the sand. First, it explicitly states that the government cannot release proprietary information related to commercial fishing. This is a critical protection for the industry, ensuring that a fishing company’s secret spots or successful strategies aren't accidentally published alongside the public recreational data. Second, the bill is very careful not to step on existing toes. Section 6 explicitly states that this Act does not change any current federal, state, or tribal authority over fisheries or navigable waters. It also clarifies that creating this public database does not fulfill the government’s requirement to consult with Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations on a government-to-government basis, preserving important existing treaty rights.

The Fine Print: Where the Details Get Fuzzy

There is one area where the government retains a little wiggle room: the Secretary only has to publish the data “as much as they practically can.” This medium level of vagueness means the scope of what actually makes it onto the public website might depend on budget constraints or bureaucratic priorities, potentially leaving out some useful, but difficult-to-digitize, information. However, the overall push is clearly toward modernization and making federal waters more navigable and understandable for everyone.