TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation Thursday to shield an aquatic preserve from a new cruise port and ratify new Department of Environmental Protection rules, the first bills signed from this year’s legislative session.
DeSantis (R) signed FL SB302 (26R), which limits dredging and filling in of the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve to projects that are in the public interest, promote the health of the preserve or upgrade boating infrastructure.
The governor said the bill would protect the preserve from a proposed cruise port, which has been heavily opposed by locals and environmental groups. The port, proposed for a site near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Manatee County next to Terra Ceia, “struck a lot of people as being unnecessary,” DeSantis said.
“There’s not really a need to add another port in the middle of a conserved area,” DeSantis added, citing Florida’s already-robust cruise ship industry.
