The Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025 prohibits feeding sharks in the U.S. waters off the coast of Florida, except for specific exceptions like federally funded research or if it poses no health or safety risks. This law applies to the Exclusive Economic Zone, which extends up to 200 miles from the coast.
Supporters of the Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025 praise it as a crucial step in protecting shark populations and promoting marine conservation. Environmental advocates highlight the bill's potential to enhance public safety and preserve the natural ecosystem by reducing human-shark interactions.
Critics argue that the Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025 may hinder legitimate research and educational programs that utilize shark feeding as a tool for studying marine life. Some stakeholders in the tourism industry express concerns that the bill could negatively impact activities like shark diving, which are popular among tourists.
The Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025, sponsored by Daniel Webster, does not exhibit any direct industry overlaps with the sponsor's top donor industries, which include Health Professionals and Retired individuals, totaling $1.26 billion. Given that the bill's subject matter does not align with the interests of these donor industries, the potential for conflicts of interest appears minimal. Furthermore, while there is significant lobbying activity in the policy area, the lack of disclosed financial ties to the specific industries of the bill suggests that the influence of these lobbyists may not directly benefit the sponsor's financial backers. Voters should be aware that while there is substantial funding from health professionals, it does not seem to directly impact the legislative intent of this bill.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, INC. | NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, INC. | $600,000 |
| BSA, THE SOFTWARE ALLIANCE | TIM YEHL, LLC | $20,000 |
| ENVISION GROUP LLC | MR. ANDREW FUTEY | undisclosed |
| GESCONTI GROUP,INC. | GESCONTI GROUP,INC. | undisclosed |
| JOHN BRIAN LEDBETTER MISSIONS CORPORATION | JOHN BRIAN LEDBETTER MISSIONS CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| KASICH COMPANY | MARKQUEST | undisclosed |
| MARKQUEST | MARKQUEST | undisclosed |
| AMERICAN FINANCIAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION | MARKQUEST | undisclosed |
| KASICH COMPANY | MARKQUEST | undisclosed |
| AMERICAN LOGISTICS ASSOCIATION | MARKQUEST | undisclosed |
| MARKQUEST | MARKQUEST | undisclosed |
| TRACKONOMY SYSTEMS, INC. | ANCHOR & ARROW LLC | undisclosed |
| HOLLY STRATEGIES INC. ON BEHALF OF 202 GROUP | ANCHOR & ARROW LLC | undisclosed |
| CITY OF ST LOUIS | BRACY TUCKER BROWN & VALANZANO DBA BROWN & ASSOCIATES | undisclosed |
| EMAD EL SAID YOUSSEF SAAD EL-GALADA THROUGH BOLT CAPITAL, LP | NEXUSONE CONSULTING | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Daniel Webster, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
