Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025

The Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025 would amend federal fishery law to prohibit feeding sharks in the exclusive economic zone off Florida's coast, which extends 200 nautical miles offshore. If enacted, the bill would ban shark feeding for tourism, education, or research purposes, though shark fishing would remain legal. Supporters argue the measure would enhance public safety by reducing shark-human interactions and prevent sharks from becoming conditioned to associate humans with food. The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a floor vote in the House. Opponents contend the ban could harm Florida's shark diving and tourism industry, which generates hundreds of millions in economic activity and thousands of jobs, and argue scientific evidence does not support claims that shark feeding increases attacks or significantly changes shark behavior.