• New legislation would modernize accessibility to saltwater recreational fishing regulations and marine waters navigation information
WASHINGTON, September 12, 2025 – Saltwater anglers, hunters and marine recreationists joined the, Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, National Marine Manufacturers Association, American Sportfishing Association and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation in cheering Senate passage of the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act this week 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.
U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Angus King (I-Maine) introduced the bipartisan legislation.
The MRAA is encouraged about the passage of this important legislation. Furthermore, we worked to support MAPOceans during the 119th Congress, with previous Chairman of the MRAA Board, Jeff Strong, testifying in support of MAPOceans on Capitol Hill. To learn more about our past involvement supporting this bill, click here.
“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 Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “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. We’re grateful to Senators King and Cruz for their leadership in championing this important initiative and their hard work to get it passed out of the Senate.”
Act History
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. 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 digitize those rules and integrate them into GPS units and smartphone apps popular with boaters and anglers, giving the public real-time access to the information.
Industry Applauds Passing of Bill
“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 consolidates and makes existing spatial information more accessible, empowering anglers to better understand and safely enjoy our marine waters,” said Glenn Hughes, American Sportfishing Association President. “We thank the Senate for passing this bipartisan bill and look forward to its continued progress.”
“We applaud Senator Cruz and Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Senator King for their leadership in passing the MAPOceans Act out of the Senate,” said 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 create barriers for angler participation on our coastal waters.”
“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,” said Jessica Wahl Turner, President of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Association.“The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable appreciates Senators Cruz and King for championing the MAPOceans Act and for finding innovate ways to allow more Americans to enjoy the outdoors.”
Understand Mapping Public Access
Finally, learn more about TRCP’s work to improve your access to public lands and waters here.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.
