Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act

This bill, known as the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act, aims to enhance public access to information regarding recreational use of Federal waterways. It directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop and adopt standards for the coordination and dissemination of geospatial data related to fishing restrictions , recreational vessel activities within the exclusive economic zone, and general access to Federal waters. This standardization process must involve consultation with various stakeholders, including State and local governments, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations, and is to be completed within 31 months of enactment. Within four years, the Secretary must establish a publicly accessible website to provide comprehensive geographic information system (GIS) data. This data will detail conditions for fishing restrictions, areas open or closed to recreational boating and diving, and limitations on vessel use within the exclusive economic zone , including information on Federal marine protected areas and authorized activities. The website will also include navigation, bathymetric, and depth chart data, ensuring it is findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable, with a mechanism for user updates. To ensure data quality and responsiveness, the Secretary is required to implement a public comment process for the data and its accessibility, and to update certain data elements at least twice annually, with some real-time updates. The Act also mandates cooperation with non-Federal entities and interagency coordination with various Federal departments to ensure data compatibility and interoperability. Importantly, the bill explicitly states it does not apply to Tribal waters or usual fishing areas and protects sensitive information like cultural resources or proprietary commercial fishing data.