House · HR 3831 · 119th Congress
Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025
Summary
This bill bans people from feeding sharks in federal ocean waters off Florida's coast. It covers the zone from state waters out to 200 miles offshore. Exceptions exist for federally funded research and cases where officials determine feeding poses no safety risk.
In Favor
Florida has more shark attacks than any other state. Feeding sharks trains them to connect people with food, which raises the danger for swimmers and divers. This bill extends a rule already in place for Hawaii to protect Florida's coastal communities and beach visitors.
Against
This bill is narrow and largely symbolic for most people. Shark diving tours that feed sharks could lose business, since exceptions require a safety review that may be hard to pass. The bill adds a regulatory burden on small operators without clear evidence that feeding caused recent attacks.
Additional Considerations
Purpose & Problem
Is the problem real and worth federal action?
This bill bans feeding sharks in the ocean zone off Florida's coast, which extends up to 200 miles from shore. It targets the practice of putting food or other substances in the water to attract sharks for non-harvesting purposes.
Scope & Related Provisions
Does it stay focused, or carry unrelated add-ons?
The bill stays on topic by focusing only on shark feeding in Florida's ocean zone. All provisions connect directly to that single ban and its limited exceptions.
Who Is Affected
Who benefits, and who bears the cost?
People or groups that feed sharks in Florida's offshore waters must stop or qualify for an exception. Federally funded researchers and those meeting safety standards set by a federal or state agency may still feed sharks under the bill.
Cost & Funding
Is it affordable and responsibly funded?
The bill does not authorize or appropriate any specific dollar amount. It shifts enforcement duties onto the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which must determine when feeding presents a safety risk under one of the exceptions.
Risks & Implementation
What could go wrong in practice?
The bill requires a federal agency to judge whether shark feeding poses a public health or safety risk on a case-by-case basis. Carrying out that review process could be complex, since the bill does not define clear standards for making that judgment.
For the actual bill text, see congress.gov.
AI-generated · Published 7/24/2026