The Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves are actually five contiguous aquatic preserves within the greater Charlotte Harbor estuary complex to be designated by Legislature for inclusion in the aquatic preserve system under the Florida Aquatic Preserve Act of 1975. The preserves are the Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve in the north, to Cape Haze Aquatic Preserve and Gasparilla Sound - Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve, to Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve and Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve in the south.