Sponsors (16)
The bill centralizes and standardizes publicly accessible ocean and navigation geospatial data—improving safety, tribal participation, and data interoperability—while trading off higher implementation costs, potential privacy risks for commercial operators, some administrative complexity across jurisdictions, and exposure to agency discretion on fishing restrictions.
Recreational boaters, mariners, anglers, and the general public will get standardized, publicly accessible geospatial maps (including bathymetry and navigation data) that improve navigation safety, reduce accidental violations, and make planning easier.
Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations are explicitly recognized and included in consultation and management processes, and existing treaty rights are preserved, supporting tribal sovereignty and information needs.
Commercial and recreational fisheries, researchers, and private developers gain clearer boundaries and interoperable FAIR data, improving compliance, planning, research, and opportunities for new marine services and tools.
Taxpayers and federal/state/tribal budgets will face increased administrative, implementation, and maintenance costs to build and operate FAIR-compliant, real-time GIS systems and to support interagency coordination and partnerships.
Commercial and recreational fishers and fishing-dependent communities face uncertainty and possible economic limits because broad 'Secretary-determined' discretion could be used to impose new fishing restrictions without additional legislative approval.
Small businesses, commercial operators, and fishers risk loss of competitive privacy if detailed EEZ activity and location data are made public despite withholding rules, potentially harming proprietary operations.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Requires NOAA to develop standards and publish FAIR-compliant GIS layers mapping fishing restrictions, recreational vessel access/restrictions, and navigation info for the U.S. EEZ.
Introduced May 13, 2025 by Russell Fry · Last progress May 13, 2025
Requires the Secretary of Commerce (through NOAA Fisheries) to create common standards and publicly available GIS data layers that map fishing restrictions, recreational vessel access and restrictions, and navigation information in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It sets deadlines for standards and data, allows partnerships with states, tribes, local governments, nonprofits, universities and private experts, and protects sensitive archaeological and proprietary fishing data while excluding Tribal waters and usual and accustomed Tribal fishing areas from the law’s authority. The law directs NOAA to follow FAIR data principles, provide user update and public comment tools, update certain data frequently (some in real time; others at least twice yearly), and coordinate with other federal agencies and existing ocean mapping efforts to ensure interoperable geospatial data for public ocean use.