Location:
Gulf Islands GEOpark is located in the Gulf of Mexico approximately 2 miles from the mainland shoreline in northern Pinellas County. This park consists of nine islands with four primary islands including Honeymoon Island, Caladesi Island, Anclote Key and Three-Rooker Bar, all located directly to the north of Clearwater Beach Island. Anclote Key, the northernmost island crosses the border between Pinellas and Pasco Counties and lies mostly within Pasco County. St. Joseph Sound, through which the Intracoastal Waterway passes, is the body of water between this island complex and the mainland.

Date of Seagrass Protection Zone Authorization:
November, 1994

Authorization:
Chapter 62D-2.004, Florida Administrative Code (Specific Authority 370.021(1), 258.011 Implemented 258.007(2)

Wording on Signs:
Signs read "Combustion Motor Exclusion" (Honeymoon Island:permit No.93-073, F.A.C. 62D-2.004; Caladesi Island: permit No.93-072, 62D-2.004). A total of 72 signs (21 around Honeymoon Island and 51 around Caladesi Island) were distributed around the edges of seagrass meadows. Signs conform to the Florida Uniform Waterway Marker System. Signs are bordered in international orange with an orange circle in the center. The orange circle signifies a restricted area.

Enforcement:
Florida Park Patrol and Florida Marine Patrol.

Enforcement action:
Violations of boating exclusion zones are treated as misdemeanors (criminal penalties) with citations provided to the vessel operator and associated fines levied.

History:
There are two primary species of seagrass comprising the seagrass community in this area. Both turtle grass and cuban shoal grass are distributed throughout the approximately 1800 acres of seagrass that surround the bayside portions of the GEOpark islands. Seagrass distribution was recognized as declining from 1950 to 1982 by over 72% due primarily to dredge and fill and other human activities. Dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway between May 1961 and October 1963 directly and indirectly eliminated a large percentage of seagrass in St. Joseph Sound. Analysis of photographic information in a 1992 report by Alice Bard indicated over a 20% reduction of seagrass communities between the years of 1973 and 1990. She noted an especially dramatic increase in the number of propeller scars between 1979 and 1990. Bard (1992) determined through analysis of aerial photos that propeller scarring was in large part responsible for this more recent loss and recommended closure of seagrass systems out to the 1 meter depth contour adjoining GEOpark Islands. Sargent and coworkers (1995) determined that areas close to the islands were either moderately or severely scarred and that of the 22,920 acres of seagrass in Pinellas County, 42.3% or 9,680 acres were scarred, 5,880 in the moderately to severely scarred category. These authors ranked Pinellas County sixth in total scarring overall.

A series of public meetings were held beginning in early 1994 to address closure of the seagrass beds around Gulf Islands GEOpark. Park staff worked extensively with representatives of local public and private organizations to address concerns for seagrass protection within the planned motorboat exclusion zone and closure signs were finally placed along the 3 foot mean high tide depth contour in November 1994, officially establishing an enforceable closure area.

Combustion Engine Exclusion Zone Maps:
Note: Sign boundaries exist inside edges of deeper seagrass systems not shown on the maps

Honeymoon Island State Recreation Area

Caladesi Island State Park

Seagrass Protection Report