Anchoring and Mooring at Seaports:
HB 795 creates a new section of Florida law authorizing certain listed seaports to establish “no anchoring or mooring” zones for uninsured boats that have been anchored for more than 45 days in waters surrounding the port. The stated purposes are port security, preventing interference with freight and passenger commerce, protecting residents and visitors, and preserving the flow of legitimate trade and travel. The bill also sets geographic limits on how large those zones may be, depending on whether they are within the navigational harbor or outside it.
To create a zone, a seaport must apply under chapter 327 to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Before applying, the seaport must hold at least two public hearings showing the proposed boundaries. The commission must consult with the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Department of Transportation, and it may modify the proposed boundaries. After approval, the seaport must review the zone annually and submit a revised application if changes are needed. Approved zones must also be included in the seaport’s security plan and strategic plan.
The bill would add a new statutory framework in chapter 311 governing how certain Florida seaports can restrict anchoring and mooring near port waters. It would affect vessel owners, especially uninsured boats anchored for extended periods, and would give seaports and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission a formal process for creating and maintaining restricted zones. It also ties the new zones into existing seaport planning requirements under ss. 311.12 and 311.14, and would take effect July 1, 2025.
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded vote details, but the bill advanced in the legislative process before dying in the State Affairs Committee. Based on the text, the measure appears to have been framed as a port security and commerce-management bill rather than a broad boating restriction, with an emphasis on public safety, trade flow, and structured local implementation. The absence of recorded debate in the provided materials limits assessment of broader support or opposition.
The main likely points of contention are the restriction of anchoring rights near seaports, the focus on uninsured boats anchored for more than 45 days, and the potential impact on boaters who live aboard or remain in port-adjacent waters for extended periods. Another possible issue is the balance between local seaport authority and state/federal oversight, since the bill requires public hearings, commission approval, and consultation with federal agencies. Supporters would likely emphasize security, navigation, and commerce, while opponents would likely focus on displacement of long-term anchored vessels and the breadth of the proposed no-anchoring zones.