U.S. FEDRegulation
Trump signs MAPOceans Act requiring public database of offshore recreation restrictions
President Trump signed the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act (S. 759) on September 25, 2026. The Secretary of Commerce, through NOAA, must set data standards within 31 months and, within four years, publish on a public website geospatial data identifying U.S. exclusive economic zone areas subject to restrictions on fishing, boating and other recreation, refreshed at least twice a year. The act took effect on signing; no public law number had yet been assigned.
Enrolled text (GovInfo (U.S. Government Publishing Office)) → · The White House, Congress.gov
Key points
- Commerce must publish geographic data on EEZ areas with regulatory restrictions on fishing, boating and other recreation on a public website.GovInfo (U.S. Government Publishing Office)The White House
- Data standards are due within 31 months of enactment and the public website within four years.GovInfo (U.S. Government Publishing Office)
- Most data must be refreshed at least twice a year; fishing restrictions and marine protected area data in real time.GovInfo (U.S. Government Publishing Office)
- The Secretary must keep making available digitized navigation, bathymetric and depth-chart data for the EEZ.GovInfo (U.S. Government Publishing Office)
- The act took effect on signing, September 25, 2026; the public law number was not yet assigned.The White House
Sources3 articles across 3 outlets
Congress.gov
GovInfo (U.S. Government Publishing Office)
The White House
Filed under
RegulationU.S.Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans ActEnvironmentalRegulatoryFor practitionersFor governance