S. 759 — Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act
Executive Summary
S. 759, the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act, mandates the Secretary of Commerce to standardize and publish geospatial data regarding public outdoor recreational use and fishing restrictions in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Currently, recreational boaters and anglers face a fragmented landscape of federal waterway restrictions, making compliance difficult and stifling the outdoor recreation economy. This bill requires the creation of a centralized, publicly accessible GIS database within four years to provide clear, interoperable data on closures, marine protected areas, and navigation, while explicitly protecting proprietary commercial data and Tribal waters.
Arguments For
- Economic & Recreational Boost: Provides regulatory certainty for the multi-billion dollar outdoor recreation and sportfishing industries by making complex federal waterway rules easily accessible via modern digital platforms.
- Good Government & Transparency: Modernizes outdated, fragmented federal databases into a single, interoperable GIS format, reducing accidental regulatory infractions by citizens and improving interagency coordination.
Likely Supporters
Arguments Against
- Implementation Costs & Delays: Building a comprehensive, real-time GIS database across multiple federal agencies (NOAA, Coast Guard, EPA, Army Corps) is historically prone to IT cost overruns and bureaucratic delays.
- Commercial Fishing Concerns: Despite explicit statutory protections, commercial operators may fear that increased recreational traffic in specific zones or data aggregation could eventually lead to stricter spatial management or accidental data leaks.
Likely Opponents
📋 Key Provisions
- Requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop and adopt geospatial data standards for fishing restrictions and recreational vessel access within 31 months of enactment.
- Mandates the launch of a publicly accessible GIS website within 4 years detailing fishing closures, restricted areas, and marine protected areas in the Exclusive Economic Zone.
- Protects sensitive information by prohibiting the public disclosure of historic, cultural, or archaeological resource locations, as well as proprietary commercial fishing data.
- Authorizes partnerships with states, Tribes, private sector tech/geospatial industries, and nonprofits to build, maintain, and disseminate the database.
- Explicitly states the Act does not alter the definition of 'navigable waters', expand federal regulatory jurisdiction, or affect Tribal treaty rights.
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Verification Guide
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Requires the Secretary to develop data standards within 31 months.
"Not later than 31 months"
Mandates the publication of GIS data on a public website within 4 years.
"Not later than 4 years"
Prohibits the disclosure of proprietary commercial fishing information.
"commercial fishing information, including"
Clarifies that the Act does not modify the definition of navigable waters.
"modify or alter the definition"