Friends of Shell Island

Conservationists criticize plans to reopen the East Pass in St. Andrew Bay

FYI. A cleanup at the boater anchorage would be a great way to pitch in!

We are happy to announce another great event happening this month!

🧼 National Public Lands Day – Shell Island Beach Cleanup

📅 Date: Saturday, September 27
📍 Location: Shell Island, St. Andrews State Park
🕙 Check-In: 10:00 AM at Spanish Ante or the ferry dock
🧹 Cleanup: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Central Time)
💵 Park Entrance Fee: $8.00

Join the largest single-day volunteer event in the country! Help us keep Shell Island pristine by participating in this community beach cleanup.
🚤 Bring your own boat or ride the ferry.
📝 Sign up at Spanish Ante or the ferry dock at 10:00 AM.

Questions or need help with transportation?
Contact: John Larson – [email protected]

Keep at it, Commissioners. This project will improve the environment, so why isn't the "Department of Environmental Protection" helping, instead of hindering it?

Bay County Commissioners tour old East Pass site ahead of possible restoration project The propeller was humming Tuesday morning as Bay County commissioners Claire Pease, Daniel Raffield and Doug Crosby set out on the water.

This is very disappointing. Many locals remember that the state government tried to shut down Shell Island in 2006. The tactic they used? They falsely blamed innocent locals, claiming we were destroying bird nests. There was never any proof offered, and in fact, in follow-up meetings with them, we never were given any proof. We support our military and are proud to have Eglin as our neighbor, but we hope they will understand that because this happened to us before, we believe more proof would be warranted in this case.

Eglin Air Force Base closes beach access on Cape San Blas GULF COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Eglin Air Force Base closed a stretch of beach on Cape San Blas to public use. Eglin owns about six miles of beachfront on the cape. It’s always been open to …

Looks like the wheels are still turning in the right direction.

Bay County heading effort to open East Pass A Bay County waterway that hasn’t been opened since the early 2000s is gaining momentum for a comeback.

Tunes and Tanlines Sunday August 31.

📍SHELL ISLAND PCB, FL
Here’s your 2025 Tunes & Tanlines lineup!!
📅 8/31/25 10-4pm

Come join us for a great day of FREE love music on the island and raise money for Anchorage Children's Home!

Noah Hicks
Micah Carpenter
Alli Leighann
Zack Miller Music

DONATE AT LINK BELOW ⬇️

https://gofund.me/46e7dd23

Article on reopening the old pass. Great job, Panama City News Herald, for your in-depth coverage. It’s slowly moving forward!

Will a new pass improve water quality in St Andrews Bay? What we know about East Pass

Great news!

Governor Ron DeSantis signs Boater Freedom Act in Panama City Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference Monday morning to discuss his signing of the Boater Freedom Act.

Opening East Pass is moving forward a step: the application will be submitted soon to the agencies who have approval authority. The opening will create a new, safer boating passage to the Gulf, improve water quality in the bay, sustain our fisheries and improve tourism.

Want to help? Please send an email or letter to Keith Bryant, of Bay County Public Works. He is at [email protected].

Your original words are helpful, but here is a template to give you food for thought:

I Support Reopening East Pass

I am writing to express strong support for Bay County’s proposed Reopening of East Pass, which seeks to restore the vital connection between St. Andrew Bay and the Gulf of Mexico that existed prior to 1998 when the historic East Pass was still open. This project represents an incredible opportunity to enhance the local ecosystem, support the region’s economy, and improve the quality of life for our community.

Reopening the pass will create an alternate route from St. Andrew Bay to the Gulf of Mexico for recreational boaters who must currently use the St. Andrew Bay Entrance channel, which is congested with large commercial vessels. Restoring this historic connection to the Gulf will also enhance water flow, improve water quality, and restore essential habitats for marine life, such as fish, oysters, scallops and other species. A healthier marine ecosystem will benefit both commercial and recreational fishers, contributing to the vitality of our local fishing industry and tourism. Reopening East Pass will provide residents and visitors with additional opportunities for boating, fishing, and enjoying the natural beauty of our coastline. This will not only enrich the community’s lifestyle but also attract tourism, further fueling the local economy.

As a member of the community and a stakeholder in Bay County’s long-term prosperity, I support the approval and issuance of the necessary regulatory permits and authorizations for this essential project. The Reopening of East Pass is a critical step in creating a more sustainable and thriving Bay County for generations to come.

Thank you for your attention to this important issue. I look forward to seeing this project move forward.

The Florida Governor has proposed to prohibit boat inspections on the water without probable cause, called the "Boater Freedom Initiative."

Governor Ron DeSantis Announces New Initiative to Protect Floridians Right to Boat | Executive Office of the Governor February 12 2025 MIAMI, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the Boater Freedom Initiative, a legislative proposal that protects Floridians’ right to boat by preventing local bans on vessels based on fuel type, repealing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)’s auth...

Florida panhandle life is grand! Photo taken Destin, circa 1958.

Friends of Shell Island Preserving our access to Shell Island, Panama City, Florida