Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act

This bill requires the Secretary of Commerce to standardize, publish, and make accessible geospatial data about public outdoor recreational use of federal waterways and federal fishing restriction areas. It aims to improve public access to information on where and how people can fish, boat, and dive on federal waters.

Sec. 2, Definitions: Defines key terms including 'Federal fishing restriction area' (areas where NOAA bans or restricts fishing), 'Federal waterway' (water managed by the Secretary of Commerce), 'Federal waterway restriction' (access or use limits), and 'Secretary' (the Secretary of Commerce).

Sec. 3, Data standardization: Within 31 months, the Secretary must develop and adopt standards for collecting and sharing geospatial data on public outdoor recreational use of federal waterways and fishing restriction areas, consulting with stakeholders.

Sec. 4, Data publication and accessibility: Within 4 years, the Secretary must put geographic information system (GIS) data on a public website. This data must include details on federal waterway restrictions (e.g., open/closed areas, motor limits, anchoring rules, allowed watercraft types) and federal fishing restriction areas (e.g., boundaries, closures, no-catch zones, marine protected areas, and catch methods like circle hooks). The Secretary must also continue providing navigation, bathymetric, and depth chart data on the same site. The data must be findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable, with update notifications. The public can submit questions or comments. Data must be updated at least twice yearly for waterway restrictions and in real time for fishing restrictions. The Secretary cannot disclose information on historic, cultural, or archaeological resources.

Sec. 5, Cooperation and coordination: The Secretary may partner with state agencies, interstate fisheries commissions, regional ocean partnerships, data experts, private sector, and nonprofits, and can enter agreements to carry out the bill. The Secretary must coordinate with Interior, Agriculture, Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, and the Interagency Working Group on Ocean and Coastal Mapping to ensure database compatibility. The data must note it is subject to federal, state, and tribal regulations.

Sec. 6, Rule of construction: Nothing in this bill changes the definition of 'navigable waters,' affects federal or state jurisdiction over navigable waters, or alters the authority of agencies to manage fisheries.