10/13/2025
As we continue to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Aquatic Preserve Act - Did you know?
Florida’s very first aquatic preserve was designated in Estero Bay in 1966—marking the beginning of a bold commitment to protecting our coastal waters.
In 1975, the Florida Legislature passed the Aquatic Preserve Act, officially creating the Florida Aquatic Preserves Program under the Department of Environmental Protection. This law was a turning point, establishing standardized protections for some of the state’s most valuable submerged lands.
Today, Florida's Aquatic Preserves represent some of the most biologically diverse and ecologically significant natural areas in the state. These 43 designated preserves, encompassing over 2.9 million acres of submerged lands, protect vital coastal and freshwater ecosystems including seagrass meadows, oyster and hard-bottom habitats, mangrove forests, salt marshes and coral reefs.
With more than 1,000 springs in the state, and perhaps the largest concentration of freshwater springs on Earth, springs are purely and uniquely Florida. The...
