Ask the Experts | Artificial Reefs Anglers Building Habitat

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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Article courtesy of Yamaha Outboards[/FONT]

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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]It has long been recognized that sunken ships and natural hard bottom areas are home to all manner of sea life, including popular recreation game fish. Anglers who discover such oases on the ocean bottom keep the "numbers" as secret as they would the combination to their safe deposit box. They also understand the value of creating habitats where no such structures currently exist in order to improve and encourage the growth of marine ecosystems. [/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Before artificial reef building became an organized process, there were some early efforts like the sinking of derelict ships that were quite successful. Other efforts, however, like sinking bundles of old tires, were not. Then about 40 years ago, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's fisheries division, working with coastal states, developed a formal plan for artificial reef creation and took the lead in approving reef sites for development. [/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]In an effort to keep artificial reefs from becoming little more than ocean dump sites, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA®) and U.S. Coast Guard® were engaged to develop standards for the types of materials that could be used. [/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]This process has been fine-tuned over the years. Some of the criteria used to determine whether or not an item is appropriate for artificial reef formation include the estimated lifespan of the item on the ocean floor, its ability to remain where it is placed, and whether it is free from any substance that might cause pollution. Today, some of the items most commonly used as reef materials include all manner of concrete rubble, boats, barges, ships, dry docks, military vehicles, dredge rock, and even subway cars in addition to specially-constructed concrete and metal reef modules. Furthermore, experimental structures are being submerged onto reefs to investigate their applicability as habitat enhancing structures. [/FONT]

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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Once artificial reef areas are designated by a state and approved by NOAA for development, where do all the reef materials and the funding to deploy them come from? In many states, the agencies in charge of managing marine fisheries take the lead in acquiring materials, but they often do so through public-private partnerships with recreational fishing and diving clubs that want to help promote reef construction. There are many non-profits set up specifically to help obtain reefing materials as well as provide funds necessary to clean the materials and sink them on site. The end result of these partnerships is more viable fish habitats that expand fish populations and fishing opportunities. [/FONT]


[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]In addition, artificial reef building gives anglers the opportunity to have a very positive impact on fish and fishing. [/FONT]


[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]One of the oldest and most successful artificial reef-building programs can be found off the coast of New Jersey. It was founded in 1984 with the express purpose of creating a network of artificial reefs to provide a hard substrate for fish, shellfish and crustaceans, fishing grounds for anglers, and underwater structures for scuba divers. Today, the program has blossomed into 15 artificial reef sites that encompass over 25 square miles of sea bottom. It is overseen by the Bureau of Marine Fisheries, which works in concert with private citizens, anglers and dive clubs, conservation organizations, businesses and even the military to obtain and place the massive amounts of reefing materials. [/FONT]

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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The productivity of New Jersey's reefs is nothing short of amazing. In recent years, one in every three fish caught by recreational fishermen has been caught on the reefs, yet they encompass less than one percent of the sea floor found off the state's shoreline. [/FONT]


[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]If you live and fish in a coastal state, chances are there is an organization nearby that is actively working to build artificial reefs. They always need volunteers and funds to continue their work, which provides you with an excellent opportunity to help build a brighter future for saltwater fishing for yourself and your kids and grandkids. [/FONT]


[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif][EDITOR'S NOTE] Find all your fishing supplies at iboats.com [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif] Article courtesy of Yamaha motors. For additional information on Yamaha boating, visit yamaha-motor.com[/FONT]