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Stop The Skyway Cruise Port

Sign The Petition Now

A new cruise ship terminal, tentatively called the Knott-Cowen Cruise Port, has been proposed on the seaward side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, on the Knott-Cowen tract, near Terra Ceia Bay and Rattlesnake Key. The project, put forward by SSA Marine in partnership with the Tampa-based Slip Knott LLC, has sparked alarm among local communities and organizations seeking to protect Florida’s vital waterways.

SSA Marine claims the terminal would allow for larger cruise ships to visit Tampa Bay. In a recent Bradenton Herald opinion column, Stefano Borzone, president of SSA Marine’s Cruise Division, wrote: “Together, we can define the next generation of cruising in West Central Florida: one that supports local jobs, strengthens the region, preserves the region’s unique ecology, and reflects the values of West Central Florida.”

But Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, Suncoast Waterkeeper,
and our partners see a very different reality.

The proposed port would threaten the health of our shared watersheds, including Tampa Bay, Terra Ceia Bay, Sarasota Bay, and beyond. SSA Marine’s claims about economic benefits and ecological preservation obscure the real, serious harm this terminal would inflict on our waterways, our health, our businesses, and our way of life.

The Claims vs. The Impacts

Supporting local jobs?
SSA Marine claims that the building of this port would add 31,000 local jobs, but this ignores the economic fallout for restaurants, waterfront businesses, homeowners, fishing professionals, and recreational guides. These local entrepreneurs who rely on a healthy bay would suffer devastating losses if this port is built.

Strengthening the region?
Manatee County generates billions annually through tourism, fishing and boating. Building a massive industrial terminal in a key recreational and fishing area would disrupt these industries, stress aging stormwater and wastewater infrastructure, and degrade surrounding lands. Coastal wetlands alone can provide up to $23 billion in coastline protection services. All of these elements that support our region today would be severely compromised with the introduction and operation of this terminal.

Preserving the region’s unique ecology?
Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve is considered one of the most environmentally sensitive, home to seagrass beds, wetlands, and vital wildlife habitat. Though SSA Marine touts the preservation of Rattlesnake Key as a token of their “commitment to environmental stewardship”, Rattlesnake Key is simply not enough to account for the disastrous impacts of industrial development that would ripple across the entire watershed.

Reflecting the values of West Central Florida?
The beauty and bliss of West Central Florida lies in our natural, wild landscapes. We who live in and love West Central Florida know that clean water defines our way of life. This terminal would be a blaring contradiction to the values and lifestyle we cherish.

In 2020, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program performed a study and released a detailed Habitat Master Plan Update which showed that to deliver on water quality and habitat goals in Tampa Bay, there could be no net loss of mangroves. This assessment included all proposed development tracts. This business proposition is a NET LOSS to the environment, to our water quality, and to our LOCAL economy.

What's Next?

According to Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times reporter Max Chesnes, SSA Marine plans to start community engagement this year and to begin the rezoning process with Manatee County government, which would include public hearings before the county commissioners. Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper will organize and attend public hearings and closely monitor the rezoning and permitting processes. Stay tuned for calls to action.

USE YOUR VOICE NOW

Neighbors and community members are speaking up to Save Our Bays from the construction of the Knott-Cowen Cruise Port.

Sign your name to the petition and we will bring your voice with us wherever it needs to go to fight against these developments, whether that is to the Army Corps of Engineers, FDEP, the Manatee County Commissioners and SSA Marine's community meetings and tell them: NOT HERE, NOT EVER.

Adding your name to the petition will also keep you informed with email updates.

Together, we can protect the waters that make West Central Florida special.