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102 Coastal Businesses Support A New Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve

The coastal waters of Citrus, Hernando, and

Pasco counties are home to over 400,000

acres of seagrass. These lush meadows work

in concert with mangrove islands, saltmarsh,

oyster reef, sponge and hard bottom habitats

the gap in protection for this valuable

marine coastline.

Healthy coastal habitats foster fishing,

boating, and tourism that drive our economy.

70 percent of Florida’s recreationally and

commercially valuable fish species, including

gag grouper, spotted seatrout, redfish, tarpon,

stone crab, bay scallop, and shrimp spend at

least part of their life cycle within seagrass

communities. These seagrass-dependent

providing important coastal protections and a community-based management framework

to safeguard valuable habitats, water quality, and local economies. Importantly, this

designation supports all lawful and traditional public uses of the preserve, such as sport

fishing, commercial fishing, boating, and swimming, that are critical to our businesses and

sustain our coastal way of life. We feel a new aquatic preserve is the right tool to utilize and

to conserve the region’s rich coastal habitats and outstanding water quality for today and

for future generations.

Please act to create a new aquatic preserve for Florida’s Nature Coast.

Sincerely,

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Citrus County

Gary Rankel

Finding the Treasures of the Trails –

Kayaking Citrus County

Citrus Hills

Captain Wyn Walker

Blue Heaven River Tours

Homosassa

Bill Korade

Captain John Bazo

Captain John Bazo

Crystal River

Captain Jonathan Hamilton

Captain Jonathan Hamilton

Homosassa

Captain Mike Baize

Captain Rick Spratt

Captain Rick Spratt Charter Fishing LLC

Homosassa

Captain Mark Zorn

Capt. Z Guide Service

Homosassa

charter fishing

Homosassa

Captain Kate Spratt

charter fishing

Homosassa

Captain Marvin Williams Jr.

charter fishing

Homosassa

commercial mullet fisherman

Crystal River

Don Hamberg

Crump’s Landing

Homosassa

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Steve Lamb

Crystal Chevrolet

Crystal Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Crystal Commercial Sales

Crystal Ford Lincoln

Crystal Harley-Davidson

Rodney MacRae

Dock Masters of Homosassa Inc.

Homosassa

Mike Engiles

Engiles Eco Adventures, Inc., dba Crystal

River Watersports

Crystal River

Homosassa

Captain Louie Argiro

Florida Fishing Adventures

Crystal River

Angela Ward

Fun 2 Dive Manatee Tours

Crystal River

Captain Clay and Blake Shidler

Hang ‘Em High Sport Fishing

Crystal River

Captain Travis Roberts

Happy Place Adventures

Captain Duane Tibbetts

Homosassa Fishing

Homosassa

Captain John Bazo

Homosassa Guides Association

Homosassa

Captain William Toney

Homosassa Inshore Fishing

Captain Charlie Harris

Homosassa Red Fishing

Homosassa

Chris Doucette

Hunter Springs Kayaks

Crystal River

Captain Tommy Bohannon

Huntin’ & Hookin’ Adventures

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Bonnie Allen

Island Bait Company

Homosassa

Carla Bernhardt

Kayak Karavan

Gator MacRae

MacRae’s of Homosassa

Homosassa

Brandie Wooten

Manatee Eco Tourism Association

Manatee Fun Tours

Crystal River

Captain Sean Daugherty

Dave Moore

Moore’s Bait and Tackle

Crystal River

Steve Lamb

Nature Coast Development

Homosassa

Captain Tony Matthews

Captain Gary Bartell Jr.

Ozello Boats

Crystal River

John and Diane Hackney

Ozello Island Outpost LLC.

Captain Dan Clymer

Racin Mullet Charters

Crystal River

Captain Randy Hodges

Razor Belly Fishing Charter

Crystal River

Captain Ed Brennan

Red Ed’s Adventures

Captain Leon Hampton

Reel Time Outfitters

Crystal River

Captain Gary Bartell Jr.

River Adventure Tours

Crystal River

Brandie Wooten

River Safaris and Gulf Charters

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Brandie Wooten

River Ventures

Crystal River

Captain Mike Ziegler

Saltface Charters

Captain Cephas Christian

Seven C’s Charter

Homosassa

Christopher Ward

Shell Kat Deep Sea Fishing

Crystal River

Tim Edge

Shrimp Landing

Captain Marrio Castello

Tall Tales Charters

Crystal River

Larry Eatough

Triton Lumber & Marine Supply

Homosassa

Wallace Phaire

Wallace’s at the Greenhouse

Captain Duane Baker

Windsplitter Charters

Homosassa

Mike Ziegler

Ziegler Lawn and Landscape

Hernando County

Captain Jamie Smith

Adventure Coast Charters

Hernando Beach

Captain Jonathan Fritz

Bulldog Fishin Charters

Hernando Beach

Brooksville

Steve Lamb

Crystal Super Center

Spring Hill

Captain Joel Gant

FishDaddy Charters

Hernando Beach

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Yann Milcendeau

Hernando Beach Motel

Hernando Beach

Dave Davidson

Precision Tackle

Captain David Frazier

Southern Breeze Charters

Brooksville

Susan Buecler

All-Line Trailers

Hudson

Cancun Daze LLC

Hospitality Services and Consultation

Holiday

Jordan Frishkorn

Get Outside Sales and Rentals

New Port Richey

Eric and Colleen Suojanen

Gill Dawg Adventures

Port Richey

Captain Mike Rabon

Nature Coast Inshore Charters

Ted Paneson

Seafood Connection

Hudson

Ken Robertson

Sunray Marine Sales and Service

Holiday

Kristin Tonkin

Sunset Landing Marina

The Patriotic Guide Service

Holiday

Wendy Longman

Windsong Charters

New Port Richey