Skip to main content
Aquatic Preserves

Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve

NEWS     |     RESOURCES     |     CALENDAR

Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve sits on the eastern side of Tampa Bay, south of the mouth of the Little Manatee River. The preserve's boundary extends 2,000 feet into Tampa Bay from the shoreline and encompasses several mangrove islands, most of which are state-owned. The preserve is situated near major urban centers like Tampa and St. Petersburg.

HISTORY

Since pre-Columbian times, people have relied on the resources of Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve for abundant seafood. The most widely accepted story of the area’s unique name is that early Spanish explorers thought the abundant horseshoe crabs resembled cockroaches. This preserve is the only aquatic preserve in which the submerged land is not owned by the State of Florida. Many years ago, submerged land in Hillsborough County was ceded to the Tampa Port Authority. As a result, protection of the area within the state’s aquatic preserve system required the establishment of a long-term lease between the port authority and the state.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteer Opportunities

Many organizations have volunteer activities in the preserve. As part of Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves, this preserve's activities are coordinated by its citizen support organization, the Friends of Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves.

Events

There are regular shoreline cleanups and mangrove islands cleanups at the preserve. Various non-profit groups and members of the public are welcome to participate.

Educational Opportunities

Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve staff can provide educational materials, scientific data and outreach presentations upon request.

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION

The preserve contains rich pre-Columbian archaeological resources. The exact location of archaeological sites is not made public to protect the sites from looting and vandalism.

Like most of Tampa Bay, the area is a “drowned shoreline” product of the fluctuations in sea level caused by glaciation. During times of lowered sea level, the river valley of Tampa Bay was cut into underlying limestone by its tributary rivers. As sea level rose during glacial retreat, the area was flooded, becoming Tampa Bay. Limestone and dolomite underlie Tampa Bay. The surficial geological layer of Cockroach Bay is undifferentiated shelly sediments from the Pleistocene. The limestone that underlies, and, in some cases is exposed, in and around Tampa Bay has not been definitively identified.

Straddling part of the offshore boundary of the aquatic preserve, areas of exposed limestone provide attachment areas for hard substrate species. From aerial photographs and observation, it appears that unconsolidated ebb tide sediments from the Little Manatee River likely cover the nearshore margin of the limestone.

Wildlife Habitat and Ecosystem Type
Open sand bottom, seagrass beds, oyster reefs, hardbottom outcrops, mangrove shorelines, islands

Animals
Racoons, bobcats

Nesting and Migrating Birds
Roseate spoonbills, reddish egrets, tricolor herons

Mammals
Bottlenose dolphin, West Indian manatee, river otters

Reptiles
American alligator, American Crocodile

Fishes
Abundant snook and redfish in and around the mangrove shorelines

Other Species
A full list of species can be found in the management plan.

Conservation Efforts

Conservation efforts at Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve focus on resource mapping and monitoring, partnering to address runoff and pollution, controlling invasive species like the Asian green mussel and removing marine debris while preventing future accumulation. These activities are accomplished by working with several local partners and organizing volunteer cleanup events.

Ongoing Research

Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves conduct resource mapping, modeling, monitoring and research to gather more detailed information on the location and health of various natural communities within the preserve. Volunteers assist with invasive non-native vegetation removal on the islands as well as marine debris cleanups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Year-round

Local eco tour companies offer tours.

Yes, but aquatic preserves often are adjacent to other conservation areas that may have nesting birds or other easily disturbed wildlife. Please do not let your pet run free in areas not designated for pets, and please pick up after your pet to avoid hazardous pathogens in our coastal waters.

Follow current FWC saltwater fishing regulations.

Follow current FWC boating regulations.

While boating, abide by the posted slow speed manatee protection zones.

Seagrass is protected within aquatic preserves; avoid shallow waters and raise motor if over seagrass. Damage to seagrass can result in a fine up to $1,000.

Call Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).

ADA accommodations are specific to each access point and the managing entity for that site.

There are no fees required by the preserve, but specific access points may charge access fees to those sites. The Friends of Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves, a 501(c)3 citizen support organization, accepts donations toward their goal of supporting preserve management and public outreach/education.

Contact the Friends of Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserve. It is a nonprofit organization that was incorporated specifically to help further the goals of Tampa Bay’s Aquatic Preserves. 

Partner Groups

  • Friends of Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves
  • The Aquatic Preserve Society
  • Hillsborough County (Parks, Recreation and Conservation Program)
  • Tampa Port Authority
  • Southwest Florida Water Management District
  • University of South Florida
  • Hillsborough Community College
  • Eckerd College
  • U.S. Geological Survey
  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute