Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3831) to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to prohibit feeding sharks in the exclusive economic zone off the State of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3831, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3831, the Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025, sponsored by Representative Webster of Florida.

In recent years, shark populations have exploded in our waters. In Florida, this has posed considerable safety concerns, especially for those participating in the State's commercial and recreational fishing sectors, as well as in other recreational activities on or near the ocean.

To address this issue, Florida enacted a ban more than two decades ago on feeding sharks while diving and snorkeling in State waters. While this ban has been effective in State waters, threats still exist in Federal waters. H.R. 3831 extends the existing State ban on shark feeding to Federal waters, aligning State and Federal policies.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Representative Webster for his leadership on this important issue for the State of Florida, and I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill will improve administrative efficiency and enhance the safety of the ocean-going public by aligning State and Federal regulations. Congressman Webster's legislation is just the latest of several different bills that our committee has advanced to address issues related to shark depredation, which was exacerbated when Congress enacted the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act of 2021. I thank Mr. Webster for his work on advancing this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3831 amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to prohibit the feeding of sharks within the exclusive economic zone surrounding Florida. Currently, the Magnuson-Stevens Act only bans shark feeding in Federal waters around Hawaii and the U.S. territories.

Feeding sharks can alter their natural behavior by creating an association between humans and food sources. This behavioral conditioning may increase the risk of human-shark interactions, placing both people and sharks in danger. These changes in behavior can also disrupt the balance of marine ecosystems overall.

The increased risk of negative human and shark interactions is bad for the economy, too. It harms ecotourism and recreation, which is a multibillion-dollar industry that fuels coastal towns.

In addition, the fishing community is increasingly concerned that shark feeding encourages depredation, which is the partial or complete removal of a hooked fish from an angler's line by a shark.

NOAA Fisheries has noted that one of the reasons shark depredations have increased is that sharks are able to identify boats as an easy source of food.

Florida State law already prohibits the feeding of sharks in State waters. This amendment would expand that ban to Florida's adjacent Federal waters, creating continuity and a cohesive approach to protecting the coast, supporting a strong coastal economy, safeguarding those who rely on these waters for work and recreation, and preserving Florida's cherished marine life.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3831, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.