Manatee County Reports Threats as Cruise Terminal Debate Heats Up

Manatee County officials say threats and harassment have escalated as debate intensifies over a proposed privately funded cruise terminal near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, including reports that some county employees’ children have been targeted at school.

A proposal near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, with key decisions still ahead

SSA Marine, working with Tampa-based Slip Knott LLC, has announced plans for a cruise terminal near the Terra Ceia area, close to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The project site has been described as the Knott-Cowen Tract, a 328-acre property north of Rattlesnake Key and adjacent to the bridge.

County officials say the proposal is still at an early stage: there is no formal application on file, and the property is not currently zoned for a cruise terminal. Any development would require multiple approvals, including a zoning change that would need to be considered by Manatee County commissioners.

County leaders condemn harassment tied to the public debate

As the county receives calls and messages about the proposed terminal, officials say some communication has crossed into threats and personal harassment. Deputy County Administrator Courtney De Pol said staff want resident input, but the tone has shifted.

“We appreciate all of the input that we have received and our county commissioners are taking them very seriously and they are reading each and every one,” De Pol said. “That being said we are noticing that the public comment that we are receiving are becoming more aggressive.”

De Pol also described impacts on employees’ families: “We have staff members who have children who are being harassed at school because of cruise terminal,” she said.

Manatee County Administrator Charlie Bishop condemned the behavior in a statement: “No county employee should be harassed for performing their professional duties,” Bishop said. “No child should ever be targeted because of where their parent works.”

What county officials say about the review process and early outreach

Bishop has emphasized that the cruise terminal has not been approved and would have to move through the county’s standard review procedures if a formal application is submitted. He also addressed confusion about early outreach involving economic development incentives, saying preliminary letters to private-sector entities should not be treated as an approval or a promise of public funding.

County officials say any proposal would be subject to public hearings before advisory boards and the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, and residents can share feedback by contacting their commissioner and submitting public comment as the process moves forward.

• Application and zoning: County officials say no formal application has been submitted, and the land is not currently zoned for a cruise terminal, meaning a zoning change would be required.
• Public hearings: If filed, the project would go through multiple review steps, including public hearings before advisory boards and county commissioners.
• No final decision yet: County leaders have stressed that standard processes apply and that early outreach should not be interpreted as approval or a funding commitment.

Environmental and quality-of-life concerns drive opposition

Environmental groups, residents, and several state lawmakers have raised objections, saying the area includes sensitive coastal habitats and that cruise-related development could harm local ecosystems and change the character of surrounding communities.

Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Water Keepers, warned about potential impacts to mangroves and the broader Tampa Bay environment. “Any loss of mangroves will damage water quality and overall habitat goals of Tampa Bay,” Tyrna said.

Opponents have also cited worries about congestion, pressure on infrastructure, and how a large-scale cruise operation could affect the region. A resident-led petition opposing the cruise port has attracted more than 10,000 supporters, according to the reporting.

State lawmakers oppose the terminal, and a separate SeaPort Manatee bill is pulled

The local political response has extended beyond the cruise terminal proposal itself. State Rep. Will Robinson and State Sen. Jim Boyd announced they will withdraw House Bill 4073 during the current legislative session, saying the heightened public concern surrounding the cruise terminal made it the wrong moment for a major governance change at SeaPort Manatee, the county-owned cargo port.

In a statement from Manatee County’s legislative delegation, lawmakers said: “The proposed cruise terminal on Rattlesnake Key has understandably created public angst. While HB 4073 has no direct relationship to a cruise terminal, there are concerns about proposed changes to control and jurisdiction at this critical time.” The delegation added it was “prudent to pause and withdraw” the bill to allow more discussion with stakeholders.

What HB 4073 proposed for the port, and how officials framed the change

If enacted, HB 4073 would have shifted the Manatee County Port Authority from a dependent district overseen by county commissioners into an independent special district with a five-member board. Under the proposal, four members would be appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and one would be appointed by Manatee County commissioners.

The Port Authority is currently overseen by Manatee County commissioners, with Commissioner Mike Rahn serving as chair.

Boyd has indicated the port governance concept could return even though the bill was pulled this session. In a statement posted to his X account, he said the legislation was intended to support a long-term vision for the cargo port, adding that with “experienced, business-focused, and community-minded board members,” SeaPort Manatee would be positioned to modernize and compete while prioritizing environmental stewardship and accountability. “Though circumstances have changed, our priorities remain the same,” the statement said.

Supporters point to jobs and ship access, while critics question the fit

SSA Marine has argued the cruise terminal would create thousands of jobs and bring economic benefits to the region. The company has also said a new cruise port near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge could serve as a gateway for larger cruise ships that cannot fit under the bridge.

Some elected officials have rejected the proposal as incompatible with the location and surrounding uses. Robinson criticized the proposed location in a Facebook post: “I cannot think of a worse place to put a cruise ship terminal,” he wrote, arguing that the site is fundamentally incompatible with a major cruise operation and that economic arguments do not outweigh that concern.

State Rep. Bill Conerly has also raised concerns that cruise-related traffic and vessel activity could conflict with SeaPort Manatee’s cargo operations, pointing to issues such as seasonal surges in traffic, roadway congestion, pressure on infrastructure, and impacts on coastal habitats, while emphasizing protection of the port’s cargo-centered mission.

With no formal application filed yet, county officials say the next milestone will be submission of a proposal that can enter Manatee County’s development and zoning review process, including public hearings, as the debate continues to draw strong reactions across the community and in Tallahassee.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Has Manatee County approved the proposed cruise terminal?

No. County officials say there is no formal application on file and the land is not currently zoned for a cruise terminal, meaning multiple approvals would still be required.

Where would the cruise terminal be located?

SSA Marine has described the site as the Knott-Cowen Tract, a 328-acre property near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in the Terra Ceia area. Lawmakers and opponents have also referred to the proposal as a cruise terminal on or near Rattlesnake Key.

Who is proposing the cruise terminal?

SSA Marine, in partnership with Tampa-based Slip Knott LLC, is behind the proposal. The companies have said the terminal would be privately funded.

What are the main concerns opponents have raised?

Opponents, including environmental advocates and residents, have cited potential damage to sensitive coastal habitats and mangroves, risks to water quality and biodiversity in the Tampa Bay region, and quality-of-life impacts such as congestion, infrastructure strain, and changes to the area’s character.

What is HB 4073 and why was it withdrawn?

HB 4073 was a local bill that would have restructured SeaPort Manatee’s governance into an independent special district with a five-member board, including four appointees selected by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and one appointed by Manatee County commissioners. The local legislative delegation withdrew it this session, saying the cruise terminal controversy created public angst and made it a poor time for changes involving control and jurisdiction.