Map view
What to expect in Palmetto
Your captain meets your group at the dock, takes you to the scattering spot, and gives you time for words, music, flowers or silence. Afterward, the captain records the coordinates of the scattering so your family always knows where it took place. Biodegradable urns and flowers can be ordered from our memorial store and delivered before your service.
Scattering rules in Palmetto
Captain license
Not required
Inside Palmetto waters
Not settled
Manatee River; Tampa Bay; Gulf of Mexico past Egmont Key / Passage Key
Ocean
3+ nautical miles from land
Federal rule. Report to the EPA within 30 days.
Shallow Gulf water is fine for ashes - EPA sets no depth rule for cremated remains, only the 3 nm distance from land (barrier islands count as land). From Palmetto it is about 10-12 nm down the Manatee River and across lower Tampa Bay to Passage Key Inlet or Southwest Channel, then 3 nm off Anna Maria/Egmont Key - roughly 15-20 nm total (estimate). Tampa Bay and the Manatee River are inside water (inside the bay closing line, so the EPA ocean permit does not cover them) - no clear state rule.
Full Florida guide: permits, paperwork and sourcesLast checked October 15, 2026. A summary, not legal advice.