H.R. 3831 · Passed House · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025

Sponsor: Daniel Webster (R-FL)

What it does

• Prohibit shark feeding in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone seaward of Florida, except for shark harvesting or federally funded research.
• Allow shark feeding only when determined by NOAA or state law to present no public health hazard or safety risk.
• Establish enforcement mechanisms and penalties for violation of shark feeding prohibitions in the EEZ.

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).

Latest action

Jun 3, 2026: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation