1,000+ Signatures Every Day – Our Community Is Surging & Nothing Can Stop Us!
Dear fellow bay protectors,
First and foremost: I am incredibly proud of this community. Over 14,000 of you have signed this petition to stop the proposed cruise ship port on the Knott-Cowen Tract near Rattlesnake Key and the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve. Your passion, shares, calls, emails, and action have created unstoppable momentum. Thank you—you're the heart of this movement!
We've already achieved a major victory together: Our collective pressure (along with allies across the region) helped force the withdrawal of House Bill 4073 by the Manatee County legislative delegation. That bill would have shifted local control of our port to an independent district with heavy state influence. Pulling it back is a huge push in the right direction—it shows we cannot and will not surrender control of our waters to outside interests. We've proven that when we stand together, decision-makers listen.
This is not just my fight—it's OUR fight. There are other strong petitions and groups pushing forward too, and signing all of them makes our voice even louder and more unified. Key ones include:
- The Suncoast Waterkeeper petition to Stop the Skyway Cruise Port: Stop the Skyway Cruise Port - Suncoast Waterkeeper

(They're doing incredible work monitoring permits, attending hearings, and highlighting the broad threats to Tampa Bay, Terra Ceia Bay, and beyond.)
Special thanks to Tampa Bay Waterkeeper (and their partners at Suncoast Waterkeeper) for their tireless advocacy—they've called this proposal out strongly, built coalitions, and are leading the charge to protect our shared watershed with science-backed urgency and community focus. Their efforts amplify all of ours!
Join the conversation and stay connected on these active Facebook pages/groups rallying opposition:
- Save Rattlesnake Key: https://www.facebook.com/.../Save-Rattlesnake-Key
- People Protecting Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve: https://www.facebook.com/groups/746000325233043
(These are great for updates, events, and sharing stories from locals who know and love this area.) SAVE THE BAY ON VALENTINE’S DAY FEB,14th FROM 11-1 hosted by people protecting Terra ceia aquatic preserve. SEABREEZE PARK, 55 HORSESHOE LOOP, TERRA CEIA, FL 34250
The fight isn't over—it's just beginning. The cruise port proposal is still in early stages (rezoning, public hearings, permitting with Manatee County and state agencies). We cannot let greed override our environment—these waters aren't ours to sell or sacrifice. We're borrowing them from our children and future generations. Clean estuaries, thriving fisheries, manatees, and seagrass beds are irreplaceable.
We remind the commissioners and officials: They work for US. This is our community, our future. Together, united across petitions and groups, we can stop this destructive project and demand better, sustainable paths forward.
Keep the pressure on: Sign the other petitions if you haven't, share widely, call/email commissioners, attend meetings, and spread the facts. We've moved mountains already—let's keep going!