The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee passed a trio of ocean, marine conservation and forecasting bills Wednesday.
The “Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act,” S. 759, would require NOAA to develop advanced digital maps identifying recreational boating- and fishing-restricted offshore areas.
The bill, co-sponsored by Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), is intended to help anglers, boaters and other users “avoid wading through confusing agency websites” when trying to identify federal restrictions on oceans use, according to Cruz.
The committee also advanced S. 843, the “Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act,” from Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), which would order NOAA and the Fish and Wildlife Service to establish grants for sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation and response. The program would award $5 million per fiscal year from 2025 to 2030.
