Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Overview
This bill, the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act, aims to improve access to data about public waterways and the exclusive economic zone. It requires the Secretary of Commerce to standardize and publish geospatial data on fishing restrictions, recreational vessel use, and protected areas. The goal is to make this information readily available to the public through a website, with regular updates and a process for public feedback. It also encourages collaboration with various stakeholders, including Tribal organizations and state governments.
Key provisions
- Develops standards for coordinating and disseminating geospatial data related to fishing restrictions, recreational vessel use, and access to Federal waters.
- Creates a public website to provide geographic information system data on fishing restrictions, vessel use, and protected areas within the exclusive economic zone.
- Requires regular updates (at least twice yearly) to the data available on the website.
- Establishes a process for public comment and feedback on the data and its accessibility.
- Encourages collaboration with states, Tribal organizations, and other stakeholders.
- Specifies data to be included, such as navigation, bathymetric, and depth chart information.
- Prohibits the disclosure of certain sensitive information, including historic and archaeological resources and commercial fishing data.
- Excludes Tribal waters and customary fishing areas from the scope of the Act.
Who is affected
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