The Modernizing Access to our Public Oceans (MAPOceans) Act passed the U.S. Senate in early September by unanimous vote. Originally introduced by Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Angus King of Maine, the MAPOceans Act would 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.
While the Senate version (S.759) has been successfully voted upon, companion legislation introduced in the House of Representatives (H.R.3340) by Russell Fry of South Carolina would still need a vote by House members before moving along to the president’s office for a vote.
According to the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the MAPOceans Act builds on the success of the MAPLand Act, passed in 2022, and the MAPWaters Act, which passed out of the House of Representatives in January 2025, 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.
In an official statement, ASA along with other supporting organizations noted how 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.”
“The MAPOceans Act represents a crucial step forward in providing standardized, accessible data about our nation’s waterways,” said Matt Gruhn, president of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas while adding “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.”
