An artificial reef can do more than attract fish: How a 125-acre underwater project could reshape North Carolina's coastal ecosystems

A man-made reef spanning 125 acres would do more than provide another location for fish to congregate. The proposed artificial reef would serve as shelter and an area for feeding and potential reproduction for marine life by creating structures beneath the surface of the waters in which there are currently few hard surfaces available. This is important, as fish not only require water to live, but also need locations to feed, hide from predators, and breed.

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries plans to implement an artificial reef constructed from material salvaged from the Alligator River Bridge.

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Though the project is still in its planning phases, it demonstrates the importance that properly designed man-made reefs can have in coastal communities.

Why do fish need artificial reefs?

The aquatic landscape is more simplistic than one might believe. Sedimentary seabeds made up of sand and/or mud provide less cover and surfaces to attach to than hard, rocky surfaces and natural coral reefs.

The artificial reef allows for the construction of physical features that allow marine life to thrive. The physical features could be made from appropriate rock or other materials that would be submerged underwater.

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Once submerged, they will become home to small organisms such as algae, barnacles, and sponges and create a biological community that will allow crustaceans, smaller fish, and other marine animals to feed on.

According to the Division of Marine Fisheries of North Carolina, artificial reefs are especially valuable where the seabed lacks much natural structure. The function of spawning and foraging grounds is another function of the reef program, as highlighted by the Division of Marine Fisheries.

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The distinction is very important from the perspective of fish. In contrast to navigating the open and relatively structure-less seabed, fish have a more complex habitat to dwell in.

How do artificial reefs provide feeding and spawning grounds?

The ecological value of a marine reef depends on various processes. The physical structure of the reef is just the start of its formation.

They allow for the creation of new food sources

Man-made reefs can serve as an environment for the growth of algae and other smaller marine organisms. With their development, these organisms become a source of nutrition for smaller animals, such as crustaceans and invertebrates.

Small fishes may eat these organisms or come close to the reef in search of other food. Big fishes, in turn, will be drawn by the possibility of getting food.

It will allow for creation of a food chain, when different animals use the same ecosystem for different things.

They give protection from predators

Surviving and reproducing can be challenging for smaller fish in open-water habitats. The reef can give shelter and hiding places where smaller fish can hide from predators.

Larger fish can also use the structures to shield themselves when they are hunting for prey. It depends on the way the material is designed, since some species need certain spaces to be used effectively.

They help in reproductions

Some species of fish use structured underwater environments for reproduction or to allow the young fish to develop. Some species need particular types of materials and reef designs for that purpose.

Thus, artificial reefs can assist in different stages of fish life cycles. However, each reef structure does not have the ability to be a perfect reproduction area due to different factors, including the conditions of the water.

What could a 125-acre reef mean for Albemarle Sound?

The North Carolina project serves as a real-life example of the application of these ecological principles.

In accordance with the November 4, 2026 announcement by the state, the project is designed to include about 125 acres of the bottom land in the Albemarle Sound, which is 3.5 miles northeast of the Alligator River mouth. Materials from the Alligator River Bridge would be used to create the underwater facility.

The size is significant, but the ecological value will be determined not only by the size of the construction. The characteristics of the materials, as well as their usability for the creation of habitat for local organisms, will be determining.

Albemarle Sound is an estuary zone that is characterised by both fresh and salty water, which impacts the aquatic environment. This type of zone is a habitat for many food webs in the area.

Additionally, the proposal would increase the already established artificial reef system in North Carolina. According to the Division of Marine Fisheries, there are already 72 sites: 29 in estuarine areas and 43 in marine areas.

From the point of view of fishing communities, increased habitat would provide chances for fish to get food. However, one should not take the project as an absolute way to increase fish.

An increased number of fish near the reef does not imply that their numbers increased; on the contrary, they may have just shifted from other habitats.

Do artificial reefs actually increase fish populations?

This is one of the key questions in marine conservation. The scientists have identified two possible situations:

Fish attraction – when fish move to the newly created reef from their surroundings. Fish production – when the environment becomes productive in terms of improving the survival, feeding or reproduction of the species.

These two processes may both occur, but they are not interchangeable. The reef can become a preferred place for fishing without increasing the number of fish in the ecosystem.

This difference is emphasised in the studies reviewed by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as an essential point when assessing the artificial reefs project.

That is why long-term monitoring is so crucial. It will be necessary for scientists and fishery managers to understand what species inhabit the habitat, what young fish survive there, and how the ecosystem changes.

Why the quality of an artificial reef matters

A 125-acre footprint seems large enough, yet size by itself is no guarantee of ecological success.

Appropriate materials should be chosen that will stay put underwater and provide habitat.

Inappropriate materials might create additional problems in the environment rather than solving any.

The placement of materials should also consider water current, depth of water, existing habitats, and the species present.

It thus becomes a chance to look at a wider conservation issue: the creation of habitat is not simply a case of putting structures underwater. It is about knowing what is there and designing the environment accordingly.