Crab Island, located north of the Destin bridge, has long been a destination for boaters, both locals and tourists. Over the years, a bustling scene of roving vendors selling food, drinks and souvenirs has sprung up on the shallow waters of the submerged sandbar. 

• However, this lively mix of small businesses may face an uncertain future due to an upcoming change from the National Park Service (NPS).

The NPS, which claims jurisdiction over Crab Island as part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, is currently developing a Commercial Services Strategy and Environmental Assessment that could overhaul how vendors are allowed to operate in the area, and what services or goods would be permitted.

In an interview with WEAR Channel 3, Congressman Matt Gaetz and Destin Mayor Bobby Wagner both voiced strong opposition to the “proposed” changes, arguing that the plan could be detrimental to the local vendors and pose safety risks to visitors.

In their interview at Crab Island, Gaetz said that under the NPS strategy, at least 88 independent vendors could be replaced by a single concessionaire contract. While vendors would still be permitted to operate, many would likely have to move from the shallow inner sandbar to deeper waters along the perimeter, outside of the Crab Island zone.

• Gaetz and Wagner have cautioned that this relocation could endanger visitors due to the stronger currents and uneven depths of the outer waters. He said the change could lead to more drowning incidents.

Mayor Wagner says that switching to a single contracted vendor would harm the diversity of businesses at Crab Island. He emphasized the importance of the small, family-run operations that have made Crab Island a beloved destination for residents and tourists alike. 

Congressman Matt Gaetz voiced these concerns in a letter to the Department of the Interior, asking them to reconsider the NPS plan. He said management of the vendors should remain in local hands rather than being dictated by federal oversight.

• Mayor Wagner echoed many of Gaetz’s criticisms, arguing that Crab Island has been successfully self-regulated by the city and county along with the vendors themselves. 

In an interview, Wagner said Crab Island has evolved into a major economic engine for the area, attracting droves of visitors who patronize the floating restaurants, souvenir shops and activity rental businesses.

He believes this commercial activity is best managed collaboratively by the local municipalities and vendors who know the area best. Wagner criticized the federal government for interfering with a system that was already working well under local oversight. 

The Mayor worries that switching to a single NPS concessionaire contract would dramatically alter the special ambiance of Crab Island.

• Wagner said many vendors have built livelihoods and supported families for years through their Crab Island ventures. He said they now fear losing everything if the NPS plan goes through. 

“Local government should hold the power to manage and maintain our natural resources and businesses. I do not wish to give up regional control to the federal government so that they can tell us ‘what is best’,” he said. “If we allow government overreach to continue, we give up the privilege to self-govern and lose our local voice and freedom.”

In a resolution passed on August 21, 2023, the Destin City Council formally aligned themselves with Gaetz in opposing unilateral federal control over Crab Island vendors. The council emphasized that any changes should be made collaboratively with local input. 

The resolution states “the City of Destin and Okaloosa County are privileged to have the Crab Island Area, a significant recreational hub that has attracted countless visitors, promoting local diversity and economic progress.” It goes on to say safety and commerce at Crab Island are best managed by the local community. 

Crab Island is part of a national park

NPS Superintendent Darrell Echols confirmed in an interview that under federal law, the National Park Service has jurisdiction over commercial activities within national parks. He said the upcoming Commercial Services Strategy will follow mandated policies for concessions management.

He explained that under the 1998 Concessions Management Improvement Act,commercial activities in national parks must go through an extensive approval process. The NPS evaluates whether proposed ventures are “necessary and appropriate” for each park’s specific nature and purpose.

For small operations making under $25,000 annually, parks can issue Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs). However, for larger concessions making over $25,000, the NPS must conduct a competitive bidding process for concessions contracts.

This contract bidding process involves first developing a detailed “prospectus” outlining the services to be offered. The prospectus is then put out publicly for 60-90 days for companies to place bids. A national NPS panel evaluates the proposals, with final approval either regionally or from the Washington office.

Echols stressed that the NPS has no choice but to follow these mandated policiesfor larger concessions operations in national parks. However, he said they are trying to balance public input as they finalize the Crab Island strategy.

Echols said the NPS has flexibility in terms of the geographic scope and services covered in a concessions contract. For instance, they could potentially allow some services under a concessionaire and others under CUAs.

• But he emphasized that the NPS cannot permit commercial activities that are not deemed “necessary and appropriate” under their guidelines. This legal obligation limits how much the Crab Island strategy can be tailored based on public feedback.

When it comes to the “necessary and appropriate” criteria, Echols explained that selling bottled water isn’t necessary for the public to enjoy the park or to preserve the natural and cultural resources in the park. However, in contrast, something like a snorkel tour, is designed to bring the public to the park in a way that they wouldn’t be able to see or experience without a tour. He says that would be considered necessary because it furthers the purpose of the park. 

He went on to say that if a business meets all the appropriate criteria, it would then be determined to be appropriate. And so, if a commercial venture can be determined to be necessary and appropriate, it could be something that the park would entertain allowing. 

• If it’s not necessary or not appropriate, then NPS would not, by law, be able to allow it, according to Echols.

Next steps

Once finished, the EA and CSS will determine the allowed visitor uses and commercial services at Crab Island going forward. As it stands currently, the NPS’ management zones for Crab Island do not match the existing activities, which include watersport rentals, dining cruises, snorkeling trips and more. Updating the zones could open the door for more diverse visitor opportunities and commercial services.

While many may not realize it, the NPS boundary extends well beyond just Crab Island, encompassing surrounding waters including Navarre Beach, Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key, and areas of Mississippi. Any commercial services operating in these waters fall under NPS jurisdiction and management rules.

While the outcome remains uncertain at this point, Echols reiterated that the NPS has been transparent about the developing strategy with vendors and local officials. He said they aim to properly balance conservation, recreation access and appropriate concessions per their mandate as a federal agency.

• The superintendent said once the draft plan is released, there will be a 30 day public comment period, likely including a public meeting to outline details. The NPS will then make a final decision on the strategy.  

Echols said they had hoped to finalize the plan by late summer, but it is now likely to drag into December or January. This could push implementation from 2024 to 2025, as vendors apply for new permits each January, but nothing is set as of yet.

While emphasizing the federal mandate to properly manage concessions contracts, Echols said the NPS is very committed in completing the strategy that they have been working on for 5 years. 

• He went on to say that NPS has repeatedly been in contact with vendors over the past five years that changes are coming, and to not make any drastic changes to their businesses. 
• They have also briefed all relevant local and federal officials on the plan over the past year.

The NPS insists their priority is protecting natural resources while providing appropriate public enjoyment. But many local leaders and businesses fear the federal approach could jeopardize the special character and economic livelihood of one of Destin’s most iconic attractions.

The heated debate over Crab Island concessions will likely continue as the Park Service moves forward with finalizing its strategy in the coming months.