Commerce would standardize and publish maps for federal ocean recreation

The Commerce Secretary would adopt shared standards for coordinating and sharing location data about fishing restrictions and recreational access to federal waters. The standards cover fishing restrictions, recreational vessel use of the exclusive economic zone, and recreational vessel access to federal waters. The Secretary must consult relevant stakeholders, including state and local governments, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations. The Secretary must adopt the standards within 31 months after the Act’s enactment.

The Secretary would make specified maps and information available on a public website, and keep the data updated. The maps cover the exclusive economic zone, including fishing restrictions and recreational boating, diving, and related activities. To the maximum extent practicable, the website must show fishing restrictions, areas open or closed to recreation, vessel limits, and federal marine protected areas and permitted activities. The website must help users find and use the data, offer updates when new data is available, and accept public questions or comments. The Secretary may not disclose protected historic, cultural, archaeological, or paleontological resource information or commercial fishing information. This section does not apply to Tribal waters or usual and accustomed fishing areas. The Secretary must make the specified maps available within four years after enactment, update some data at least twice a year, and update restriction boundaries and protected-area information in real time.

The Secretary would continue making digital navigation data available and, where practicable, post it on the same website as the other maps. This provision concerns information for navigating the exclusive economic zone. The data includes navigation information, underwater depth information, and other information consistent with law and policy.

The Secretary may work with outside partners and experts, make agreements with them, and coordinate with federal agencies to share compatible data. The coordination covers location data about public recreation in the exclusive economic zone. Partners may include state, tribal, and Native Hawaiian organizations, nonprofits, schools, experts, and private companies. The Secretary must make clear that the data remains subject to applicable federal, state, and Tribal laws and rules.