16 U.S. Code § 6883 - Data publication and accessibility

(a) Data on fishing and recreational vessels in exclusive economic zone

Not later than 4 years after September 25, 2026, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of Science and Technology of the National Marine Fisheries Service, and to the maximum extent practicable, shall make available on a publicly accessible website geographic information system data that—

(1) includes, with respect to the exclusive economic zone—

(A) information with respect to the conditions under which fishing restrictions are imposed and the areas within the exclusive economic zone that are open or closed to recreational boating, diving, and related recreational activities (as determined by the Secretary), including for safety reasons such as because of the presence of harmful algal blooms;

(B) the areas of the exclusive economic zone with restrictions on the use of motorized propulsion, horsepower, or fuel by or of recreational vessels; and

(C) the types of recreational vessels that are restricted on each area of the exclusive economic zone;

(2) describes the geographic boundaries of areas where fishing restrictions occur; and

(3)

(A) identifies Federal marine protected areas, including National Marine Sanctuaries, national marine monuments, and other federally protected waters; and

(B) includes information on what fishing, recreational boating, and other related recreational activities are authorized in each such area.

(b) Data on navigation within exclusive economic zone

(1) In general

The Secretary shall continue to make available digitized geographic information system data that includes, with respect to access to the exclusive economic zone—

(A) navigation information;

(B) bathymetric information;

(C) depth charts; and

(D) other information, consistent with law and policy.

(2) Website

The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, make the data described in paragraph (1) available on the website on which the Secretary makes the data described in subsection (a) available.

(c) Data accessibility

The Secretary shall ensure that the website on which the Secretary makes the data described in subsections (a) and (b) available—

(1) organizes that data so that the data is findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable; and

(2) includes a mechanism by which users can be easily updated when new data becomes available.

(d) Public comment

The Secretary shall develop—

(1) a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the data described in subsections (a) and (b) and the accessibility of that data under subsection (c); and

(2) methods to improve the accessibility of data.

(e) Updates

The Secretary shall update—

(1) the data described in subsections (a)(1) and (b) not less frequently than 2 times each year; and

(2) the data described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a) in real time.

(f) Nondisclosure of certain information

The Secretary may not, consistent with applicable law and policy, disclose, in any geographic information system data made publicly available under this section—

(1) information regarding the nature, location, character, or ownership of historic, paleontological, cultural, or archaeological resources; or

(2) commercial fishing information, including proprietary information.

(g) Treatment of Tribal waters and fishing areas

The authorities granted by this section shall not apply with respect to any usual or accustomed fishing areas or Tribal waters.

(Pub. L. 119–116, § 4, Sept. 25, 2026, 140 Stat. 1058.)