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BENEFITS OF ARTIFICIAL REEFS
An artificial reef can do more than attract fish: How a 125-acre underwater project could reshape North Carolina's coastal ecosystemsAn artificial reef will be constructed in North Carolina's Albemarle Sound, scheduled for development soon. This project aims to create she...- In 2024, the US military sank the 360-foot Monarch Countess weighing 2,743 tons; the retired vessel now rises 100 feet from the seafloor in 180 feet of waterThe Monarch Countess, a roll-on/roll-off vessel, now rests serenely on the Gulf of Mexico's seabed. This ship, having been adapted for mili...
- Georgia repurposed retired chicken cages as estuary reefs in the 1990s; years later, the structures remained stable and supported oyster growthIn an innovative move, Georgia has transformed chicken transport cages into artificial reefs to bolster marine life. Initiated in 1990, suc...
- In 1994, Florida deployed seven retired M60 tanks as reefs off Pensacola; a 2000 inspection found them still in their original positions on the seafloorThe state of Florida creatively utilized retired M60 tanks by turning them into artificial reefs for marine habitats. This innovative initi...
- In 2026, Texas deployed 400 tons of concrete railroad ties off Port O’Connor; the material was arranged into two piles at an artificial reef siteIn April 2026, Texas took a significant step by deploying 400 tonnes of concrete railroad ties to form two artificial reef piles. This proj...
- In 2020, New Jersey deployed a 150-foot steel caisson gate in 125 feet of water; the structure extends 30 feet above the seabed and is expected to last more than 75 yearsUnderwater at Deepwater Reef in New Jersey, a caisson gate has been installed to form a new artificial reef. Designed to nurture marine bio...
- In 2019, New York deployed 4.5 million pounds of retired Mill Basin Drawbridge materials at Hempstead Reef off Long Island’s South Shore, adding to the artificial reefThe Mill Basin Drawbridge has been intentionally submerged at Hempstead Reef to create a habitat for marine life. Research suggests that wh...
- In 2018, Delaware dug about 1 million tons of rock from a shipping channel and put it underwater instead of discarding it; The new reefs became rich blue-mussel habitatDelaware has successfully transformed dredged rock from a shipping channel into underwater habitats for marine species. This innovative app...
- In 2004, Florida researchers attached 36 recycled oyster shells to each reef mat; restored Mosquito Lagoon reefs later reached about 1,000 live oysters per m²Researchers along Florida’s Atlantic coast are using recycled oyster shells to restore damaged oyster habitats. Restoration mats that inclu...
- Columbus Marathon 2026: How the race raised $15 million for children's healthcare and became ‘America's most meaningful raceColumbus Marathon 2026: Columbus Marathon 2026 brought more than 15,000 runners to Columbus, Ohio and has raised more than $15 million sinc...
- Apple Fellow Phil Schiller and his wife donate $25 million to help protect coral reefs across the world; How their gift will fund new researchPhil Schiller and Kim Gassett-Schiller announced a $25 million donation to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. This funding aims to e...
- Florida to dump 990-foot ship in Gulf of Mexico to create world’s largest artificial reef. It will create a new marine habitatThe iconic SS United States is on the verge of transformation as plans to sink her and create an artificial reef in the Gulf advance. With ...
- Florida was throwing away damaged metal signposts. In 2026, they are being turned into underwater habitatsIn Florida counties, discarded road signposts are being creatively repurposed into underwater habitats. These metal structures are transfor...
- How 285 reef balls are turning an ocean desert into a thriving ecosystem in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Placentia BayA team of ocean scientists in Newfoundland and Labrador are turning one ocean dead zone into a thriving marine ecosystem and the live camer...
- In 2019, Jordan sank a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar in waters up to 92 feet deep; three years later, its fuselage and wings sheltered corals, sponges, octopuses and pufferfishAn ex-airliner has been repurposed as a lively artificial reef in the Red Sea. As marine species have swiftly inhabited the sunken plane, a...
- 1978, Massachusetts developed a 127-acre reef of 2,500 concrete-filled tire bundles in Nantucket Sound; a 2019 survey found fish arrived in about 33 seconds at reefs versus nearly eight minutes over bare sandNearly fifty years ago, Massachusetts introduced tire reefs to enhance marine ecosystems. Recent research indicates that these structures n...
- In 1997, Florida sank 8 A-7 Corsairs and a T-2 trainer off Jacksonville; 5 years later, all remained in place and were regularly used by divers and fishermenIn 1997, retired A-7 Corsair aircraft were deliberately sunk off the Florida coast, serving a dual purpose as artificial reefs. This innova...
- In 1995, Florida sank three F-106 jets off Bay County; later surveys found reef fish and greater amberjack around the aircraftIn an innovative effort to bolster marine life, retired fighter jets are strategically submerged off the coast of Florida, transforming int...
- In 2002, South Australia scuttled ex-HMAS Hobart in 2 minutes and 17 seconds; 18 years later, a marine survey recorded more than 50 fish species around the destroyerThe HMAS Hobart, once a formidable navy destroyer, has transformed into a vibrant artificial reef after being submerged for eighteen years....
- In 2009, Key West sank the 523-foot Vandenberg in 140 feet of water; one year later, REEF monitoring had documented 123 fish species on the former shipIn 2009, the retired missile ship Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg was deliberately sunk near Key West, giving rise to a significant artificial reef...
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