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HR3340119th CongressWALLET

Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act

Sponsored By: Representative Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]

In Committee

Summary

Standardized, public geospatial data for federal waters that maps fishing restrictions, recreational-use zones, and navigation details. The bill would direct the National Marine Fisheries Service to set data standards within 31 months and to publish a searchable, interoperable portal within 4 years.

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  • Recreational boaters and divers would get clearer, searchable maps of where boating, diving, and recreational fishing are allowed or restricted, plus safety alerts like harmful algal blooms. Some vessel-type and motor or fuel restrictions would be updated in real time after initial publication.
  • State, local, and federal managers, scientists, and private users would gain standardized, interoperable GIS data to plan and respond across jurisdictions. The bill would set a 31-month deadline for standards, a 4-year deadline to publish the full dataset, and require many layers be updated at least twice per year.
  • Tribes, cultural resources, and commercial fishers would see specific protections. The bill would not apply to usual and accustomed fishing areas or Tribal waters and would bar release of historic, paleontological, cultural, or archaeological site data and proprietary commercial fishing information.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Public ocean maps for mariners

If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary of Commerce to publish standardized GIS maps and ocean data for the U.S. exclusive economic zone. Navigation and bathymetric data would be made available upon enactment and the new fishing- and recreational-use maps would be published not later than four years after enactment. The Secretary would adopt technical standards within 31 months and work with other federal agencies and outside partners to make databases compatible. Some condition data must be updated at least twice per year and geographic boundaries and protected-area rules must be updated in real time. The website would be public, follow findable/accessible/interoperable/reusable standards, and include a user update and public comment process.

Protections for Tribal and sensitive data

If enacted, the bill would bar the public GIS portal from publishing the locations or details of historic, cultural, paleontological, or archaeological resources. It would also prohibit release of proprietary commercial fishing information in the published GIS data. The bill would exclude usual and accustomed fishing areas and Tribal waters from the portal and require the Secretary to state that published data remain subject to Federal, State, and Tribal laws. If enacted, the law would also define key terms used in the Act.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]

SC • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

    LA • D

    Sponsored 6/4/2025

  • Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 7/14/2025

  • Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 7/16/2025

  • Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

  • Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 7/21/2025

  • Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 7/29/2025

  • Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 8/8/2025

  • Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 8/15/2025

  • Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 9/30/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 10/3/2025

  • Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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