Protesters rally in opposition of cruise port proposal

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Protesters met on Terra Ceia Island Saturday morning to speak out against a proposed cruise terminal.  

This is a response to a national cruise terminal operator that has proposed a large-scale port at the northwest tip of Manatee County. 

If built, the port would allow for larger ships to use the Tampa Bay area as a port of call.

Monika Beard was one of the dozens of attending protesters.

“I would hate to see one less natural area for Floridians to enjoy,” she said.  

Thousands of signatures have already been collected in support of this cause, but Beard took an additional step. 

She wrote a letter to Manatee County commissioners.

“This environment is what makes Tampa Bay inviting,” she said. “It makes people want to come here and spend time and money. So, I think it’s a long-term investment keeping this place how it should be.”

Nell McPhillips, the president of the Terra Ceia Village Improvement Association, said her group is one of the many to take part in the protest. 

She said the widespread support from various organizations is what it will take to stop this port.

“We’re not fighting this alone as the 400 lonely residents of Terra Ceia,” she said. “We’re working together with everybody because this is something that’s going to affect everybody in Manatee County.” 

A Manatee County spokesperson said that because the cruise terminal proposal is in the pre-application phase, they can only comment on the process. 

“A pre-application request allows staff to provide preliminary feedback to an applicant but does not authorize construction or constitute project approval. Should a formal application be submitted, it would undergo the standard public review process, including opportunities for community input.”