The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership is applauding Senate passage of the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act by unanimous consent. The MAPOceans Act will direct the standardization, consolidation and digitization of boating and recreational fishing information for federally managed marine waters and federal fisheries administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The bipartisan legislation was introduced by U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Angus King (I-Maine).
“TRCP joins America’s sportsmen and sportswomen in thanking Senators Cruz and King for bringing forth this bipartisan, access-oriented legislation, and greatly appreciates the broader Senate support for its passage,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “The MAPOceans Act will help simplify fishing and boating experiences to enhance recreation opportunities while expanding access by making the necessary information for safe, legal saltwater fishing more readily available through digital technology.”
The MAPOceans Act builds on the success of the MAPLand Act, passed in 2022, and the MAPWaters Act, which passed the House of Representatives this past January, by directing NOAA to digitize navigation and recreational-use rules for marine waters and federal fisheries, and to make those resources readily available to the public. The hundreds of thousands of offshore ocean miles and numerous saltwater fish species regulated by NOAA present enormous recreational opportunities where restrictions are difficult to access and constantly changing. MAPOceans directs the federal agency to compile those rules in digital form so they can be integrated into GPS units and smartphone applications that are popular with boaters and anglers, making that information available to the public in real time.
“The MAPOceans Act consolidates and makes existing spatial information more accessible, empowering anglers to better understand and safely enjoy our marine waters,” said Glenn Hughes, president of the American Sportfishing Association. “We thank the Senate for passing this bipartisan bill and look forward to its continued progress.”
Added Chris Horton, senior director of fisheries policy for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation: “This much-needed, bipartisan legislation will finally remove the uncertainty about where we can fish and with what gear that can often creates barriers for angler participation on our coastal waters.”
The boating industry applauded the passage, as well.
“At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we recognize the immense value our coastal regions provide, not only as vital ecosystems but also as hubs for recreation that drive local economies and support marine retailers,” said MRAA president Matt Gruhn. “The MAPOceans Act represents a crucial step forward in providing standardized, accessible data about our nation’s waterways. By digitizing key information like fishing regulations and restrictions, this legislation will enhance safety and enjoyment for recreational boaters and anglers while also supporting conservation efforts.”
Jessica Wahl Turner, president of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Association, said that “expanding access to the information anglers and boaters need to safely get out on the water will help fuel America’s $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy.” Founded in 2002, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership is the largest coalition of conservation organizations in the country, uniting and amplifying the voices of sportsmen and women by convening hunting and fishing groups, conservation organizations and outdoor businesses to a common purpose.
