HR3831-119

What This Bill Does

H.R.3831, the Florida Safe Seas Act of2025, adds Florida to16U.S.C.1866. That section currently covers the exclusive economic zone seaward of Hawaii and U.S. Pacific commonwealths, territories and possessions. It prohibits introducing, or attempting to introduce, food or another substance into the water to attract sharks for a purpose other than harvesting sharks. The geographic addition reaches the federal zone off Florida; it is not a nationwide ban on feeding all marine animals.

All four available bill versions have the same substantive amendment. The bill passed the House and was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee on June3,2026; it remains pending. Florida already has state-water restrictions on feeding marine species while diving or snorkeling and on specified passenger-boat operations. The new federal geographic coverage is distinct from those existing state rules.

Who Benefits and How

Divers and other recreational water users could benefit if reducing deliberate feeding reduces situations that concentrate sharks or associate people with food. This is an expected safety rationale, not a measured promise that the bill will reduce attacks or eliminate normal encounter risks. Marine conservation organizations could also benefit from less deliberate disturbance through feeding.

The existing statute excludes feeding for shark harvest from this particular prohibition and retains its exceptions for a Secretary or state-law determination of no public-health hazard or safety risk and for research funded wholly or partly with appropriated funds. Thus the bill does not close shark fisheries, prohibit all bait use, or exempt every privately funded research activity. Existing fishing restrictions still apply independently.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Operators offering baited shark-viewing or feeding excursions in the newly covered federal waters would have to stop prohibited feeding, change their operating model or qualify for an applicable exception. That creates compliance costs and can reduce revenue opportunities for services dependent on deliberate feeding. The rule is not limited to commercial operators: covered noncommercial introductions and attempts are also prohibited. It does not prohibit viewing or diving without the prohibited feeding conduct.

Commerce Department and NOAA fisheries enforcement personnel would administer the expanded geographic coverage. The bill does not create a new agency, specify a new fine, create a compensation program for affected operators or appropriate additional enforcement funds. Its exceptions and existing enforcement framework remain part of the law rather than being replaced by a blanket ban.

Key Provisions

• Expands16U.S.C.1866 to the exclusive economic zone seaward of Florida by adding the State to the existing geographic list.
• Prohibits covered non-harvest feeding and attempts under the existing statutory framework, including noncommercial conduct.
• Uses the existing safety-determination and appropriated-funds research exceptions without changing independent harvest rules.