Plans for economic growth don’t always land as advertised — especially when they touch Florida’s most sensitive waters.
One concept to build a cruise terminal near the Sunshine Skyway in Manatee County has sparked opposition from environmental advocates who say the project could irreversibly damage mangroves, seagrass and a largely pristine part of Tampa Bay. As developers pitch job growth and access to massive party vessels, critics warn the real cost may be paid by the estuary itself.
We hear from waterkeepers who are sounding the alarm early, calling the proposal reckless and unnecessary — and questioning why a region already dependent on a healthy bay would gamble with it. The debate highlights a familiar Florida tension: growth vs. preservation, and who gets to decide what progress looks like…