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Port Canaveral, north of Cape Canaveral,
has developed from a small oil and shrimp port into the
busiest cruise port in the Western Hemisphere. Today it
is an international hub for cargo grown from humble beginnings
and is the only deep water port between Fort Lauderdale
and Jacksonville. In the mid-1950s, a cargo vessel loaded
with newsprint and a petroleum tanker made the first calls
on Port Canaveral and Tropicana tanker vessels began transporting
refrigerated single-strength orange juice to New York.
Bulk cement was first shipped through the
port in the mid-1960s. Petroleum, which continues to be
one of Port Canaveral's major imports, accounted for 93
percent of the Port's cargo by 1966, while cement imports
represented six percent. The remaining one percent of
cargo included newsprint, military and miscellaneous cargo.
During 1966, Port Canaveral's cargo tonnage reached the
one-millionth mark for the first time.
 
Recreation at Port Canaveral
Three parks, plus a fourth in the planning
stage, are located within the port proper. A mile and
a half of bike paths run throughout the Port, from its
eastern boundary at Jetty Park to Freddie Patrick Park.
Jetty Park offers camping, fishing, swimming and surfing.
Public boat launching ramps, located at
Port's End Park and Freddie Patrick Park, are free and
open to the public. Fish-cleaning tables can be used at
Freddie Patrick Park and Jetty Park. Additionally, the
Malcolm E. McLouth fishing pier at Jetty Park allows anglers
to cast for such catches as Snook, Spanish Mackerel and
Drumis and the Port is considered the largest scallop
fishery in the world. Three marinas are located at the
Port, providing wet- and dry-boat storage slips and boat
chartering services.
Port Canaveral is the site of several major
deep-sea fishing tournaments throughout the year, including
the annual Florida Sport Fishing Associations' Offshore
Tournament, the largest single-day fishing tournament
in the world. In addition to its recreational facilities,
the Port hosts many other events throughout the year,
including festivals and tours of visiting military vessels.
Crusing
Port Canaveral is home to some of the finest
cruise terminals in the world. Six cruise terminals are
in operation, and two more are on the drawing board.
The Cove at Port Canaveral is a waterfront
recreational area that is home to a variety of restaurants,
shops, charter boats and attractions.Seafood is a specialty
with the day's catch going directly from the deck of the
fishing boat to the restaurant kitchen.
In addition to restaurants and other retail
activities, offshore gaming is available from The Cove
at Port Canaveral onboard SunCruz Casino's SunCruz XII,
and onboard Sterling Casino Lines' Ambassador II from
Cruise Terminal 2.
The Port Canaveral Association, comprised
of a number of business owners and representatives, also
hosts several major events throughout the year like The
Cape Kennedy Corvette Club 2nd Annual Port Canaveral Corvette
Show, NCCC Sanctioned, May 17, 2004
The Canaveral Port Authority has an ongoing
commitment to maintain environmental quality while continuing
to grow and foster economic development. Among the programs
that the Port's environmental staff implements are those
which focus on endangered species protection, creation
of artificial reef habitats, public events, and water
quality monitoring.
Responsibility for an environmentally sensitive
area as large and as active as Port Canaveral requires
commitment on a daily basis. The Canaveral Port Authority
has a number of environmental programs designed to ensure
that this commitment is met.
Right Whales come to the coastal waters
off Port Canaveral to bear their young during the winter
months from December 1 through March 31 annually. The
Canaveral Port Authority's right whale protection program
was conceived and implemented in 1993 after the coastal
waters off the Port were designated as a critical habitat
for the Right Whales by the National Marine Fisheries
Service.
Canaveral Lock is located in the central
portion of the Banana River, north of State Road 528 Causeway,
Brevard County, Florida. The Canaveral Harbor and Canaveral
Lock areas have a long history of manatee usage. Manatees
have been observed entering the Port through the Lock
in the morning and then returning to the Banana River
through the Lock at sundown.
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Canaveral Port
Authority is an independent governmental agency
created by the Florida Legislature. Five elected commissioners
epresenting the five port regions are the governing
body of Port Canaveral and have jurisdiction over
all fiscal and regulatory policies and operations
of the Port |
Harbor District
As now structured, the Canaveral Harbor
Port District was created by House Bill 1136, Chapter
28922, from the Laws of Florida Special Acts of 1953.
It established a port district in the central and north
areas of Brevard County, Florida, and designated the area
as the Canaveral Port District.
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