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Florida's 16 deepwater ports contribute $117 billion annually to the state’s economy and support nearly one million jobs. More than 100 million tons of cargo are moved through the ports each year and they welcome millions of cruise passengers. Yet with this scale and complexity comes immense responsibility – and growing vulnerability.

To address this vulnerability, the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, in partnership with Port Tampa Bay, hosted the first Florida Security Forum on November 4, 2025.

Florida’s ports face innumerable threats in 2025, and the list seems to grow daily. Many of these risks can be organized into three interrelated and increasingly urgent security challenges:

• cybersecurity threats
• physical and insider risks
• climate-related disruptions

Each one can potentially disrupt trade, jeopardize public safety, and undermine our state’s competitiveness and resiliency.

The stakes are high, and it’s never too early to act.  We convened leaders, experts, and stakeholders from across the state to address these risks head-on.  Together, we can secure Florida’s ports for the challenges of tomorrow.