Florida Senate - 2025 SB 594 By Senator Rodriguez 40-01099-25 2025594__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to no anchoring or mooring zones; 3 creating s. 311.104, F.S.; authorizing certain 4 seaports to designate no anchoring or mooring zones 5 for specified purposes; specifying boundary limits for 6 no anchoring or mooring zones; authorizing certain 7 seaports to apply to the Fish and Wildlife 8 Conservation Commission to establish no anchoring or 9 mooring zones; requiring an applicant to hold a 10 specified number of public hearings; authorizing the 11 commission to consult with other entities; authorizing 12 the commission to modify no anchoring or mooring zone 13 boundaries; requiring certain seaports to annually 14 review the boundaries of approved no anchoring or 15 mooring zones and submit a revised application under 16 certain circumstances; requiring that certain 17 information be included in seaport security plans and 18 seaport strategic plans; providing an effective date. 19 20 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 21 22 Section 1. Section 311.104, Florida Statutes, is created to 23 read: 24 311.104 Designation of no anchoring or mooring zones.— 25 (1) Each seaport listed in s. 311.09(1) may designate no 26 anchoring or mooring zones for all of the following purposes: 27 (a) Implementing port security measures. 28 (b) Ensuring freight and passenger commerce is not impeded. 29 (c) Promoting the safety and security of residents and 30 visitors of this state. 31 (d) Maintaining and protecting the flow of legitimate trade 32 and travel at all times. 33 (2) The boundary of any designated no anchoring or mooring 34 zone may not exceed 5,000 feet from a seaport entrance or pier 35 or wharf adjacent to a seaport channel or turning basin. 36 (3) A seaport listed in s. 311.09(1) may apply, pursuant to 37 chapter 327, to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to 38 establish a no anchoring or mooring zone. 39 (4) Before applying to the commission to establish a no 40 anchoring or mooring zone, an applicant must hold at least two 41 public hearings displaying the boundaries of the proposed no 42 anchoring or mooring zone. 43 (5) The commission may consult with the United States Coast 44 Guard, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and the 45 Department of Transportation when considering an application 46 for, and the boundaries of, a no anchoring or mooring zone. 47 (6) When considering an application for a no anchoring or 48 mooring zone, the commission may modify the proposed boundaries 49 of such no anchoring or mooring zone. 50 (7) After approval of a no anchoring or mooring zone, the 51 seaport must review the no anchoring or mooring zone boundaries 52 annually and, if necessary, submit a revised application to the 53 commission with any proposed modifications to the boundaries. 54 (8) Each seaport must include in its seaport security plan 55 and in its seaport strategic plan, as required under ss. 311.12 56 and 311.14, respectively, any approved no anchoring or mooring 57 zones that are in effect. 58 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.