Bill Advances to Restrict Dredging Near Proposed Manatee Cruise Port
State lawmakers have advanced legislation that could effectively halt plans for a proposed cruise port in Manatee County by limiting dredging activities in the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve.
An amendment filed by Jim Boyd to a broader coastal resiliency bill would restrict dredging within the preserve, which borders private property where cruise operator SSA Marine has announced plans to develop a new cruise terminal.
The amendment specifies that dredging in the preserve would be permitted only for purposes such as improving water quality, removing stagnant waters, or maintaining existing marinas, boat ramps and piers. The language would not allow dredging to support the construction of a new cruise port facility.
SSA Marine recently unveiled plans for a terminal capable of accommodating larger cruise ships that cannot pass beneath the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The proposed site is located near the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, an environmentally sensitive area protected under state law.
The proposal has drawn significant public attention. Hundreds of residents gathered in opposition to the project in recent weeks, raising concerns about environmental impacts, traffic and changes to the character of the surrounding communities.
Local officials have also reported that some Manatee County government employees received threats amid heightened tensions surrounding the proposal.
A similar measure is moving forward in the Florida House of Representatives. If approved and signed into law, the legislation would place new limits on dredging activities in the aquatic preserve, potentially preventing the cruise port project from proceeding as currently envisioned.
