Representative Daniel Webster (R-FL) is celebrating the House's passage of his Florida Safe Seas Act.
The bill, which Rep. Webster first introduced last June, prohibits feeding sharks in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), defined as the area extending 200 miles from the U.S. coastline, a rule that already exists in Hawaii and several other American territories in the Pacific.
Exceptions to the rule allow feeding sharks for harvesting or research, provided the research is federally funded.
"As a Floridian and member of the House Natural Resources Committee, I am committed to the responsible stewardship of our marine ecosystems and the safety of our waters," Rep. Webster emphasized in a press release. "The Florida Safe Seas Act takes a commonsense step to help protect swimmers, anglers, beachgoers, and visitors by prohibiting shark feeding in federal waters off Florida's coast. This legislation mirrors longstanding Florida law, promotes responsible conservation of marine wildlife, and helps prevent interactions that place Floridians and visitors at risk."
House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) further commented, "Florida's waters are among the nation's greatest destinations for recreation and outdoor adventure. H.R. 3831 aligns federal waters off Florida's coast with state law by prohibiting shark feeding, helping reduce dangerous human-shark interactions and improving public safety. I appreciate Rep. Webster's efforts to promote safer waters for anglers, boaters, and beachgoers across Florida."
In November, Webster joined Representative John Rutherford (R-FL) as a cosponsor for the Preserving Recreation, Oceans, Tourism, Environment, and Coastal Towns in (PROTECT) Florida Act, which codifies President Donald Trump's moratorium on drilling, leasing, seismic testing, and exploration on Florida's Gulf and Atlantic coasts (along with the Straits) until 2032, which he had placed during his first term.
The bill was strongly bipartisan, with Florida's congressional delegation on both sides of the aisle cosponsoring it, as Florida heavily relies on its beaches for state revenue.
