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FLORIDA MARINE LIFE
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...
US pilot turns 60 tons of old boats into cement fuel as 200,000 fiberglass hulls face retirement every yearThousands of old fiberglass boats are difficult and expensive to recycle, leaving many destined for landfills or abandonment. A Rhode Islan...
In 2007, the Neptune Memorial Reef began growing off Florida with cremated remains; the planned 16-acre site later developed into a coral habitatAn innovative underwater cemetery presents a novel burial alternative, where cremated remains are encased in concrete structures designed t...
In 1985, Broward County sank a DC-4 off Fort Lauderdale in 71 feet of water; the wreck later became a monitored artificial reefIn Florida, officials purposefully submerge items like airplanes to establish artificial reefs. These underwater structures not only form n...
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...
Florida dumped 500,000 tonnes of used oyster shells into the sea. It has now developed new reefs, cleaner water and is recovering the coastal environmentOver the past 16 years, Florida has successfully returned over 500,000 tons of shells to the Gulf, providing vital surfaces for young oyste...
ARSBC bought HMCS Chaudière from Canada’s Defence Department for $1 plus 7 cents GST; after its reef conversion, glass tunicates came to cover much of the vesselThe Canadian warship HMCS Chaudière was acquired for a symbolic price and subsequently sunk, transforming it into a vibrant artificial reef...
A teenager’s 4-H project helped spark a coral restoration revolution in the Florida Keys—how Ken Nedimyer turned broken coral fragments into thousands of new reef coloniesA simple father-daughter 4-H project in the Florida Keys grew into a groundbreaking coral restoration effort. Ken Nedimyer’s experiment wit...
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 1972, Florida dumped 2 million tires into the ocean to build the world’s largest man-made reef; decades later, the military had to remove themIn 1972, old tires were submerged as an artificial reef, but they didn't succeed in fostering marine life and instead became a daunting env...
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 1993, Miami lowered a retired Boeing 727 called Spirit of Miami into the sea; a storm split it apart a year later, and coral, oysters, and fish moved inThe Spirit of Miami, a retired Boeing 727, now lies submerged beneath the waves, purposefully sunk to provide an ecological haven. The deva...
In 2009, Jacksonville sank the former Coast Guard tender Spike in 100 feet of water; one year later, a REEF diver counted 16 fish species, up from just 6An ex-Coast Guard ship now stands as an artificial reef, drawing the attention of vibrant marine life. At first, the submerged metal hull w...
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...
How a student turned waste glass into an ‘oyster home’ and won Rs 1.2 lakh awardA Florida high school student, Delaney Peterson, has explored an unusual way to support oyster reef restoration, by turning discarded glass...
In 1996, NASA sank a 132-foot shuttle booster training device off Port Canaveral to become an artificial reef; marine life was expected to establish itself there within four monthsA retired NASA training device became an artificial reef in the Atlantic Ocean. This structure provided a new underwater habitat for marine...
In 1992, deadly category 5 Hurricane Andrew caused massive destructions in Florida, 34 years later as rising sea level flooding threatens nearly 40 per cent of U.S. population, Miami, other areas are showing how to be ready for doomsdayAs global average temperatures climb because of fossil fuel emissions, so do sea levels, making low-lying coastal cities vulnerable to floo...
In 2025, Miami sank 22 concrete cars beneath the Atlantic; what looks like an underwater traffic jam is actually a giant artificial reef for 2,200 coralsBeneath the waves off Miami Beach, a striking collection of 22 concrete cars lies submerged, serving as artificial reefs that support coral...
In 2002, Florida sank a 510-foot Navy ship off Key Largo; the USS Spiegel Grove became one of the world's largest purpose-built ship reefsIn 2002, the USS Spiegel Grove, a decommissioned Navy ship, was purposely sunk near Key Largo to form an artificial reef. This innovative a...
In 1986, Florida sank this 189-foot ship off the Florida Keys; decades later, its stripped superstructure is covered in sponges, corals and hydroidsThe Thunderbolt, a former military and research vessel, now serves as an artificial reef off Marathon in the Florida Keys. It was intention...