Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Official Summary
Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025 This 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).
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™The Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025 is a legislative proposal that prohibits the feeding of sharks within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the coast of Florida, except for specific purposes. The bill makes it illegal to introduce food or other substances to attract sharks unless it is for harvesting sharks or under limited exceptions such as federally funded research or when no public health or safety risks are present, as determined by NOAA or state law. The EEZ extends seaward from the state waters, generally up to 200 miles from the U.S. coastline. The bill aims to regulate shark feeding activities to manage interactions with sharks in these marine areas.
This bill restricts shark feeding activities in Florida’s adjacent federal waters, allowing exceptions only for research or safe practices, and is currently under Senate consideration.
- Prohibits shark feeding in the U.S. EEZ off Florida except for harvesting sharks or limited exceptions.
- Exceptions include federally funded research programs and feeding that poses no public health or safety risks.
- The bill applies to waters beyond Florida state jurisdiction, generally from 3 to 9 miles offshore out to 200 miles.
['National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)', 'Florida coastal communities and marine resource managers', 'Environmental and marine wildlife conservation organizations', 'Researchers conducting federally funded shark studies']
['Enforcement challenges in monitoring and regulating shark feeding activities in extensive offshore waters.', 'Determining and verifying the absence of public health or safety risks may require clear standards and resources.', 'Potential costs associated with compliance, monitoring, and enforcement by federal and state agencies.']
The bill was introduced in the House during the 119th Congress and has been received in the Senate, where it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It addresses marine wildlife management within the policy area of Public Lands and Natural Resources, focusing on regulating human interactions with sharks in federal waters adjacent to Florida.
Hidden impact flags detected: 2
GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
['Potential reduction in shark-human interactions in federal waters, which could affect local tourism and recreational activities.', 'Increased reliance on NOAA and state agencies for monitoring and risk assessment related to shark feeding.', 'Possible impacts on commercial shark harvesting practices due to restrictions on attracting sharks.']
The full bill text was not available for review, limiting detailed analysis of specific provisions. Oversight considerations include the clarity of enforcement mechanisms and criteria for exceptions, as well as the coordination between federal and state authorities. Transparency around how public health and safety risks are assessed and communicated will be important for effective implementation.
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