Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act
The Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act aims to standardize and publicly publish geospatial data about how federal waterways are used for recreation and fishing, focusing on the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The bill would require the Commerce Department (Secretary) to develop data standards, and then publish and regularly update a public GIS (maps-based) data portal. The portal would include information on fishing restrictions, areas open or closed to recreational boating and related activities, restrictions on propulsion or vessel types, boundaries of fishing restrictions, and federally protected areas (like National Marine Sanctuaries and monuments) along with what activities are allowed in those areas. It also requires ongoing access data for navigation, bathymetry, and depth charts, with public input processes and real-time or near-real-time updates where feasible. The act stresses interoperability with other federal databases and coordination with states, tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and private and academic partners. It does not change existing navigable-water definitions, regulatory authority, or treaty rights, but it creates a framework to make public ocean use data more accessible and current.
Key Points
- 1Data standardization deadline: The Secretary must develop and adopt standards for coordinating and disseminating geospatial data related to fishing restrictions, EEZ recreational vessel use, and access to Federal waters within 31 months of enactment, in consultation with stakeholders (state/local governments, tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, etc.).
- 2Public data publication on a GIS portal: Within 4 years, the Secretary must make publicly accessible GIS data available online, including:
- 3- Conditions and areas open/closed to recreational activities in the EEZ (e.g., boating, diving), including safety-related closures (e.g., harmful algal blooms).
- 4- Areas with restrictions on propulsion, horsepower, or fuel for recreational vessels.
- 5- Types of recreational vessels restricted in each area.
- 6- Boundaries of fishing-restricted areas.
- 7- Federally protected marine areas and what activities are allowed there.
- 8Navigation and related data: The Secretary will continue to provide digitized navigation data (navigation info, bathymetry, depth charts, etc.) and, to the extent practicable, host this data on the same public website.
- 9Public engagement and data updates: The Secretary must establish a process for public questions/comments about the data and its accessibility, and ensure data are updated at least twice per year for some datasets and in real time for others (as specified in the statute).
- 10Protections and tribal exemptions: The act bars disclosure of certain sensitive information (about archaeological resources or proprietary commercial fishing information) and does not apply to usual and accustomed Tribal fishing areas or Tribal waters.