Federal law already bans shark feeding in ocean waters off Hawaii; this bill extends that same prohibition to waters off the coast of Florida, specifically within the exclusive economic zone (roughly 3 to 200 nautical miles offshore). The change is made by a two-word amendment to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Commercial and recreational dive operators who offer shark-feeding excursions in Florida's offshore waters would be the primary group directly affected by the new restriction. No funding, penalties, or enforcement mechanisms beyond those already in existing law are added.
Congressional Summary
Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025This bill prohibits shark feeding in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) seaward of Florida for any purpose other than to harvest sharks, subject to limited exceptions. (Florida state waters generally extend 3 miles from the shore in the Atlantic Ocean and 9 miles from the shore in the Gulf of America. The EEZ is seaward of and adjacent to state waters and generally extends to 200 miles from the U.S. coastline.)Specifically, the bill makes it unlawful to introduce, or attempt to introduce, food or any other substance into these waters to attract sharks for any purpose other than to harvest sharks. Exceptions allow shark feeding (1) for research programs funded by federal appropriations, or (2) to the extent that the feeding presents no public health hazard or safety risk (as determined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or under state law).
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Reported to House
- Action Date
- 2026-05-20
- Date Added
- 2026-05-29
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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