ST. PETERSBURG -- An information-packed guide to environmentally responsible boating and angling in Hillsborough Bay is now available free of charge from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program.

Originally produced by Concerned Citizens of Gibsonton and Audubon of Florida with a community grant from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, the new Hillsborough Bay Boater’s Guide shows additional information important to boaters - such as the new Manatee Protection Zone from the Alafia River south to E. G. Simmons Park in Ruskin. Also featured are such eco-landmarks as the Alafia Bank bird nesting colonies, ranked among the nation’s largest and most diverse, and the Manatee Viewing Center at TECO’s Big Bend facility - which annually hosts more than 200 manatees during the winter months.

Important seagrass meadows, publicly owned lands and habitat restoration sites also are identified on the color map included in the guide, and accompanying text and photos showcase some of Hillsborough Bay’s most intriguing inhabitants, including sharks and rays, sea turtles and diamondback terrapins, and a variety of spectacular wading and shorebirds.

The guide informs boaters of areas where access is restricted to protect natural resources and wildlife. Additionally, it identifies major shipping channels, seagrass beds, manatee areas and shallow waters where boaters need to take special care. Printed on water-resistant paper, it is designed to be stored aboard a boat for handy reference.

More than 15,000 copies of the original guide were distributed to area boaters directly and through bait shops, marinas, and other water-based businesses.

The revised Hillsborough Bay Boater’s Guide was made possible by contributions from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Cargill, Terrabrook, the Agency on Bay Management, and the Frank E. Duckwall Foundation.