2026 Advocacy

Keep the Great Loop Waterways Open and Safe for Recreational Boaters

Help us in our Summer Sprint to raise the remaining 2026 Advocacy Funds needed to protect boaters' rights along the Great Loop.

 

Advocacy Sprint Campaign Progress Graphic

 

Those contributing $100 or more are recognized at the various levels listed below as well as on the contributors page.  

  • Supporter ($100-249):  Supporters will receive a decal commemorating your support.
  • Proponent ($250-499):  Proponents will receive a decal and a lapel pin commemorating your support.
  • Champion ($500+): Champions will receive a decal and a lapel pin commemorating your support and a one-year AGLCA membership extension.
  • Other:  Contributions of any amount are welcomed and appreciated.
CONTRIBUTE
Know the Facts:  Florida Anchoring Statutes
For most moving cruisers, very little has changed. If you are traveling through and anchoring a few nights at a time in Florida, you are legally free to do so in most places. New laws primarily target long-term, stationary vessels.  After the next legislative session, though, these rules may change, which is why we are asking for your support now.

  • The 14-Day Rule: Remaining in one location for over 14 consecutive days anywhere in Florida requires a free online permit (F.S. 327.4111). 

  • 30-Day County Caps: Highly populated counties (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Hillsborough) limit anchoring to 30 days within a 6-month period (F.S. 327.60) while other counties have a 45-day window.

  • Anchoring Bans:  Certain areas within Broward County and Biscayne Bay prohibit overnight anchoring entirely.

 

Proactive Defense

Why We Fundraise
AGLCA, as a member of The Boaters’ Rights Advocacy Coalition (Seven Seas Cruising Association, Marine Trawlers Owners Association and DeFevers Cruisers),  is committed to defending boaters’ rights for anchoring and waterway access. Our advocacy fund keeps legal monitoring active, particularly in Florida, but elsewhere along the Loop as well to protect these rights.   

Recent Success

While legislative issues have arisen in other states over the years along the Great Loop, Florida continues to be the epicenter of attempts to limit your freedom to anchor, which is a necessary part of safe navigation. Last year, we successfully fought against a bill that initially would have eliminated anchoring within 1,000 feet of Miami Beach shoreline. This vast overreach would have closed most viable anchorages in the area, because the parts of Biscayne Bay just beyond the 1,000-foot setback are too shallow for anchoring.  Our visits to the Florida State Capitol to provide testimony on the bill, and our lobbyist’s efforts, were successful in getting the most harmful language removed from the bill.

Our Long-Term Goal

Our goal is to end this year-after-year battle with Florida jurisdictions attempting to add waterways to section 4108, which regulates vessel anchoring restrictions, and we believe we took a big step forward on that with the passage of a bill creating the ability for local jurisdictions to create Anchoring Limitation Areas (ALA) which gives them the latitude to set anchoring restrictions within certain parameters.  The bill, with a few amendments, passed the Florida House and Senate and was signed by the Governor in 2021.

For more information on our efforts, see these Great Loop Link newsletter articles (March 2026 and January 2025).

Where Your Contribution Goes
Your contribution directly funds the critical legal and legislative monitoring required to keep the Great Loop open, fair, and safe for all cruisers. Because AGLCA does not use standard membership dues for legislative advocacy, we rely 100% on voluntary contributions to this fund.  

Primary Focus: Florida Lobbying & Legal Monitoring

The bulk of our advocacy funds will go directly toward maintaining our professional lobbying presence and legal monitoring in Florida. This ensures we have a seat at the table to intercept aggressive overreach, and protect transient boaters.

Secondary Focus: Rapid Response for the Entire Loop

While Florida is our most active front right now, maritime regulations shift quickly. A portion of these funds is held in reserve to support advocacy efforts, legal reviews, and retain lobbyists in other Great Loop states and waterways as challenges arise throughout the year.