Congress mandates public ocean maps so you know where you can fish and boat

What it does

This bill requires the Department of Commerce to create and publish standardized, publicly accessible maps and data showing fishing restrictions, recreational boating zones, and navigation information in U.S. ocean waters (the exclusive economic zone) within 4 years. The data will show where fishing is closed, where recreational boating is allowed, depth charts, and marine protected areas, while protecting sensitive information like archaeological sites and commercial fishing proprietary data. The bill aims to help recreational boaters, fishers, and the public understand where they can legally access federal waters.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core mechanism is mandating standardized, publicly accessible geospatial data on fishing restrictions and recreational water access. It is fundamentally a transparency and information-access measure, not a regulatory change or subsidy.

What the text implies

• Standardized data may reduce barriers to entry for recreational fishing and boating, potentially increasing participation and demand for related services (boat rentals, fishing guides, equipment).
• Real-time updates on fishing restrictions and marine conditions could shift where recreational users concentrate, affecting local tourism and coastal communities unevenly.
• Interagency coordination requirement may expose gaps or conflicts between federal, state, and tribal fishery management, potentially triggering future regulatory disputes.
• Exclusion of tribal waters and usual-and-accustomed fishing areas from the data mandate preserves tribal sovereignty but may create information asymmetries for non-tribal users.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Ordinary citizens and recreational users gain clearer, standardized access to information about where they can legally fish, boat, and recreate in federal waters, reducing confusion and unintended violations. The bill protects sensitive tribal, archaeological, and commercial data while improving transparency and public access to government information.

Who stands to gain

• geospatial data technology companies
• recreational boating and fishing industries
• tourism and hospitality sectors in coastal regions

Named in the bill

Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Science and Technology, Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, State governments, Regional Ocean Partnerships, Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency

Where it stands

15 cosponsors: 10 Democrats, 5 Republicans.

• May 13, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• May 13, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources”
• Jan 22, 2026 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Jan 22, 2026 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.