Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act

This bill builds one easy-to-use public website with clear maps and rules for using federal ocean waters for fun—like boating, diving, and fishing. It would show which areas are open or closed, any limits on engines or vessel types, where fishing rules apply, and what you can do in protected areas. It also keeps navigation charts and depth info online in one place.

The Commerce Department must set common data standards within about 31 months, then publish the website and map data within 4 years. The site must be easy to search and reuse, offer a way for people to get updates when new data is posted, take public comments, and refresh information regularly (twice a year for some items and in real time for others). It must not share sensitive cultural sites or proprietary commercial fishing data. It doesn’t change any existing water or fishing laws or Tribal rights, and it does not cover Tribal waters or usual and accustomed Tribal fishing areas .

Key points

• Who is affected: Recreational boaters, divers, and fishers; federal and state agencies; Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations; universities, nonprofits, and private mapping/data groups that may partner on the project.
• What changes: A single public website with up-to-date maps of open/closed areas, engine and vessel limits, fishing-rule boundaries, protected areas, and allowed activities, plus navigation and depth data. The site will be easy to use and include a way to receive updates .
• When: Data standards set within 31 months; public website and maps within 4 years; regular updates at least twice a year, with some items updated in real time .
• What it doesn’t do: It doesn’t change agency powers, water definitions, fishery management duties, or Tribal treaties/rights, and it keeps sensitive and proprietary information private. Tribal waters and usual Tribal fishing areas are not included in these new mapping authorities .