Over 10,000 sign petition opposing Manatee County cruise terminal development
One week after news broke of a cruise port proposal in Manatee County, thousands of citizens are gearing up to oppose the plan.
A petition on Change.org has garnered over 10,000 signatures as of Friday afternoon, raising concerns about environmental impacts and resident quality of life if the cruise port becomes reality.
SSA Marine recently announced development plans to build a cruise port on 328 acres of undeveloped land on the Knott-Cowen Tract, just north of Rattlesnake Key in the Terra Ceia area. Plans submitted by the company show the cruise port would be adjacent to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
The company said the Knott-Cowen Cruise Port would attract larger cruise ships that can’t fit under the Skyway Bridge to dock and depart from Port Tampa Bay, which already offers cruise ship service.
The project is still in the early phases, though, and would require several approvals from the Manatee County Government and government agencies. If approved, construction could last three to five years, according to the project’s website.
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However, Manatee County residents — and those who enjoy Terra Ceia Bay — are concerned about the potential impacts of this project.
“The proposed Knott-Cowen Cruise Port—on adjacent lands near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge—would cause direct and severe harm to Rattlesnake Key and the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve through dredging, mangrove removal, increased industrial activity, vessel wakes, and habitat fragmentation,” the petition states.
Among the petitioners’ concerns are water quality impacts, increased vessel traffic, threats to wildlife and ecosystem strain that could harm local fisheries.
The petition also links to several Facebook groups that are focused on preserving the local area, like the Save Rattlesnake Key group and People Protecting Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve.
Petitioners react to Manatee cruise port plan
The petition is also flooded with comments from supporters, voicing a range of concerns. Some spoke about the sentimental value this land holds.
“My father used to take us through Rattlesnake Key when we had boats and were younger. To hear the potential building on this land is so saddening and outrageous. If they do this those memories will no longer be able to be visited and that truly breaks my heart,” one comment says.
Some call on the Manatee County commissioners to stop this proposal, since parts of the project — like a zoning change and comprehensive plan amendment — will need the local board’s approval to move forward.
“Truly sickening! The last area in Manatee County of (its) kind. A truly special jewel. Manatee County Commissioners must take the gloves off for this one. This cannot be allowed to happen,” one comment says.
And many comments touch on the concerns about environmental impacts that could come with building a cruise port.
“This project would significantly harm the natural ecosystem and threatens one of the last remaining undeveloped shorelines in Manatee County,” one comment says. “The area supports a highly biodiverse mangrove forest that provides critical habitat, shoreline stabilization, and water-quality benefits. Rather than being disturbed or destroyed, this mangrove system should be further protected and conserved for its ecological value and long-term storm resilience.”
SSA Marine’s proposal to build a cruise terminal is set to be considered by the Manatee County Commission at a later date.
