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Boca Ciega Bay Aquatic Preserve
Created in 1969 to aid in halting the wholesale dredging and filling of the bay that occurred with the finger fill developments of the 1950's, Boca Ciega Bay Aquatic Preserve (BCBAP) was the first legislatively designated aquatic preserve in the state.
Even under docks and in front of seawalls,
seagrass beds, oyster reefs, mangrove islands, tidal flats, corals and sponges can all be found. Although the preserve is heavily impacted from development, the estimated 22,000 acres of submerged land support a diverse array of aquatic species.
Boca Ciega Bay Aquatic Preserve:
A Conversation with Roger H. Wilson
Roger Wilson, who was a member of the Florida House of Representatives, discusses the history of the Bay and how he was instrumental in making Boca Ciega Bay an Aquatic Preserve.
One man's trash is...
an aquatic animals home
It is unfortunately common to find anthropogenic (human-made) trash in our aquatic preserves. If you come across debris, you should always check to see if there are any aquatic critters attached before removing it. If there are animals present, you should leave the debris where it is. That includes corals!
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