Lawmakers just shut down plans for a cruise port in Manatee County.
The Florida House gave a unanimous thumbs-up to SB 302, a bill that leans into nature-based coastal protection and adds additional safeguards for aquatic preserves. Tucked inside is a clear block on a developer’s push to build a cruise terminal near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, a project that drew fierce local backlash and a petition from nearly 20,000 residents wanting to protect the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve.
Sen. Jim Boyd, who represents Bradenton, pushed for an amendment that locks in extra protections for Terra Ceia. Now, dredging or filling submerged lands there is basically off the table, unless it’s for public health reasons or environmental restoration. The bill also tells the Department of Environmental Protection to set up statewide standards for “nature-based” coastal protection by 2027, living shorelines, seagrass restoration, oyster reefs, mangroves, and other solutions that work with, not against, Florida’s natural defenses.
These new rules for Terra Ceia mirror protections already in place for Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve in Miami. And SB 302 updates those too, making it easier to do restoration and shoreline stabilization projects that actually help coastal resilience.
Beyond the legal changes, the bill nudges state and local governments to get the word out about why nature-based methods matter. Lawmakers want the public to know this isn’t just about stopping one cruise port: it’s about making the coast stronger for the long haul.
Key Largo Rep. Jim Mooney pitched the Senate version in the House and called it a big step for Florida’s coastlines. Bradenton’s Rep. Will Robinson backed him up, saying the Terra Ceia protections are overdue and slamming the idea of mega cruise ships in such a pristine spot. “Your bill will do a great-great deal to stop that from occurring in one of the most important environmental areas in our state,” Robinson said. “It’s a wonderful bill, and maybe one of the more important environmental bills that we vote on this session.”
The next step is the governor’s desk. If he signs it, these changes hit the books on July 1.
