DUNEDIN — Faced with an “overwhelming” request from residents to ban jet skis from the Dunedin Causeway, city commissioners unanimously gave initial approval to an ordinance July 24 prohibiting the launching of motorized watercraft from the entire beach and parking area.
Residents, non-residents and jet ski enthusiasts filled the chambers and provided almost two hours of public comment.
Mayor Maureen Freaney noted the majority of residents commenting were in favor of the ordinance, while speakers from outside the city were against the measure.
Tony Mulkey, director of Parks and Recreation, said the Dunedin Causeway has historically served as one of the city’s most active recreational waterfront destinations. Over the past several decades, he added, the city and Pinellas County have evaluated the impacts of launching vessels and motorized watercraft along the causeway shoreline.
“Recent storm impacts, shoreline restoration efforts, and increasing concerns regarding seagrass damage and safety conflicts have presented an opportunity for the city commission to revisit and assess the recreational usage of the Dunedin Causeway,” he said.
Mulkey said the launching of motorized vessels from the southern causeway was halted after damage from the 2024 hurricanes affected the launch area. Portions of the south-side shoreline, he said, experienced significant storm damage and erosion.
“Following the temporary closure of portions of the causeway after the 2024 hurricane season, local organizations and stakeholders observed noticeable improvements in seagrass conditions, shoreline stabilization and marine habitat recovery,” he said.
The waters surrounding the causeway contain extensive seagrass beds and shallow marine habitats that support fish populations, marine wildlife, manatees and shorebirds, he said. Environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club and Tampa Bay Estuary Program, have identified the area as environmentally sensitive and vulnerable to impacts from propeller scarring, turbidity and shoreline erosion caused by the activity.
“Public safety has also become a significant factor in discussions regarding vessel launching activities on the causeway,” Mulkey said, citing data provided by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office that approximately 80 jet ski-related incidents occurred between January 2022 and April 2026.
“Additionally, Dunedin Fire Rescue documented more than 3,200 calls for service on the Causeway between January 2021 and May 2026, including boating incidents, water rescues, medical emergencies, and trauma-related responses,” he said. “Two jet ski-related deaths occurred in this period.”
Public divide
During the extensive public comment segment, jet ski enthusiasts objected to comments that their watercraft could destroy seagrass, and questioned why the city could not better regulate the small launch area and errant users.
Others from outside the city said the recreational facility should be open to everyone. Many jet skiers recalled experiences growing up or with their children and grandchildren, while residents spoke about reckless jet skiers and how they impacted their tranquil beach experience.
Nick Wadell, general manager of Cycle Springs Powersports in Clearwater, told commissioners he recognized concerns about safety, but the actions of a select few should not define an entire community.
“I believe the fairest approach is to address specific behavior through clear expectations and individual accountability, while preserving access for responsible riders,” he said.
Kim Begay, vice president and conservation advocate at the Clearwater Audubon Society, said the group strongly urges the city to implement the ban.
Seagrass, she said, has had “two years to heal and we need to continue to allow it to do so. … I have watched FWC officers hand out citation after citation to jet skiers who have dangerously, and repeatedly, entered into the motor exclusion zones at high rates of speed, which is a very real danger to swimmers, snorkelers and wading anglers. They don’t seem to care about the designation or care to follow the rules.”
Commissioner Tom Dugard said the crowd that showed up to comment showed that Dunedin is a gravitation point for people who want to be on jet skis.
But he said the will of the city’s residents should take precedence.
Commissioner Steven Sandbergen agreed.
“I’ve been inundated by Dunedin residents that are against this and I represent and work for the citizens of Dunedin, so I have to go along with what they’ve asked for, and I will be voting in favor of the ordinance,” he said.
Freaney said the majority of residents she’s heard from want the ban.
“For me, it’s a safety decision before it’s environmental,” she said. “There is a lot going on out there. That is the reason it’s coined at times ‘the wild, wild west,’ because there is a lot going on out there.”
Commissioners passed the watercraft ban unanimously, with a second reading scheduled for Sept. 3.