TERRA CEIA, Fla. — A Florida Senate bill that would protect the ecosystem near Rattlesnake Key has passed unanimously.

What You Need To Know

The Florida Senate unanimously passed SB 302, which includes an amendment to prohibit dredging in the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, a key environmental protection near Rattlesnake Key

A proposed cruise port could still move forward because the House companion bill does not yet include the same dredging ban language

Manatee County business owner Corey McKeever of McKeever’s Marine gathered more than 19,000 petition signatures opposing the cruise terminal

SB 302 includes an amendment from State Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, that prohibits dredging in the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve.

However, the companion bill in the House does not include that specific provision, meaning a proposed cruise port south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, where larger ships could dock, could still move forward if the House bill is not revised.

Corey McKeever, owner of McKeever’s Marine, recently took on a passion project to protect that area from a cruise terminal.

“I knew it would destroy everything about Manatee County,” he said.

He has lived in Manatee County for decades and has owned the business for 15 years.

“I do everything on boats. When I was younger, I went fishing every day. I would skip school to go fishing at the Skyway,” he said. “We do 10 boats a week.”

McKeever believes his petition against the cruise port — which more than 19,000 people signed — has helped the effort to stop the project.

“It did help. I would think with the amount of outreach people had, reaching out to the commissioners, the senators directly, anyone that could do anything for this,” he said.

SSA Marine, which submitted the proposal for the cruise port, declined an interview but provided a statement.

“SSA Marine is committed to environmental stewardship and creating long-term economic opportunities that we are confident will be transformative for Manatee County. We look forward to continuing to engage with residents, officials, and community leaders in meaningful dialogue to discuss a shared vision for the region,” the company said.

Manatee County Commissioner Tal Siddique says he supports the amendment that would prohibit dredging in Terra Ceia.

“I spoke to our delegation and with some members of the State Affairs Committee, which is where it will be going through. I have been told there will be some companion language coming through to match the Senate version,” he said.

He also says he does not believe the cruise port project would come before county commissioners anytime soon.

“This is such a massive project, and there are single-family home projects that take a long time to come to us. I would suspect next year, maybe even bleeding into 2028, if this moves forward,” he said.

For McKeever, if the proposal does not move forward, he says it will be a job well done.

“I think it’s going to be great for Florida in general, keeping the environment — what we moved here for — to enjoy Florida,” he said.

McKeever says he believes in protecting the environment and hopes others will continue working with him to preserve Manatee County’s ecosystem.