Analyst Brief June 01, 2026

H.R. 3831 — Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025

Current Status

Reported by Committee on Natural Resources

Executive Summary

The 'Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025' amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to prohibit the feeding of sharks in the federal waters (Exclusive Economic Zone) off the coast of Florida. Currently, this statutory prohibition only applies to the EEZ off the coast of Hawaii. By extending this ban to Florida, the legislation aims to deter commercial shark-feeding tourism operations that can alter natural shark behavior, condition sharks to associate humans with food, and increase the risk of shark attacks on divers, surfers, and swimmers.

Bill Data

Primary Sponsor

Rep. Webster (FL)

Bill Number

H.R. 3831

Session

119th

Co-Sponsors

Rep. Soto (FL)
View on Congress.gov ↗

Arguments For

  • Public Safety & Tourism Protection: Reduces the risk of shark attacks by preventing sharks from associating humans with food, thereby protecting Florida's multi-billion dollar coastal tourism and recreation industry.
  • Ecological Conservation: Prevents the disruption of natural shark foraging behaviors, migration patterns, and local reef ecosystems caused by artificial feeding operations.
  • Bipartisan Local Appeal: Sponsored by a Republican and cosponsored by a Democrat, both from Florida, demonstrating unified state-delegation support for local coastal management.

Likely Supporters

Coastal tourism boardsSurfing and swimming associationsMarine conservation groups

Arguments Against

  • Economic Impact on Dive Operators: Negatively impacts specific eco-tourism businesses and charter boats that rely on shark-feeding dives to attract customers and generate revenue.
  • Enforcement Challenges: Monitoring and enforcing a feeding ban in the expansive federal waters (3 to 200 nautical miles offshore) requires significant Coast Guard and NOAA resources.

Likely Opponents

Commercial dive operatorsShark diving eco-tourism businesses

📋 Key Provisions

  • Amends Section 317 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1866).
  • Expands the existing federal prohibition on shark feeding by adding the State of Florida alongside Hawaii.
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Claim Analysis Page 3, Lines 4-5

Establishes the short title as the 'Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025'.

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"Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025"

Claim Analysis Page 3, Lines 8-9

Amends Section 317 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

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"Section 317 of the Magnuson-Stevens"

Claim Analysis Page 3, Line 13

Expands the prohibition by explicitly adding Florida to the existing Hawaii ban.

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"inserting ''and Florida'' after ''Hawaii''"