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REEF HABITAT
In 1990, New Jersey placed five retired subway cars in a reef about 70 feet underwater; a decade later, they still provided three-dimensional structureIn an innovative move, decommissioned subway cars were submerged off the Jersey Shore, transforming them into artificial reefs. These under...
South Carolina used 50 retired shipping containers to create two artificial reefs in 2005; the containers were prepared to provide shelter for marine lifeOff the coast of South Carolina, the innovative use of steel shipping containers as artificial reefs is becoming increasingly popular. By r...
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 2015, Maryland placed 5 barge loads of concrete rubble around a sunken barge off Taylor’s Island; the debris was intended to add height, surface area, and shelter for fishOff the coast of Taylor's Island, Maryland, a barge has sunk, transforming the seafloor into a barren landscape. In response, Maryland's Ar...
Alabama has the largest artificial reef system; ship containing 1,700 slot machines and 100 military tanks provides shelter to marine life and attracts eco-tourismIn July 2026, the Argosy VI, previously a floating casino, was intentionally sunk to create an artificial reef as part of Alabama's commitm...
New Jersey planted more than 26,000 bushels of recycled oyster and clam shells across 8 acres; the total was double the amount initially plannedNew Jersey has launched a remarkable shell recycling initiative aimed at revitalizing oyster reefs in the Mullica River estuary. This commu...
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 2005, Florida sank about 500 tons of concrete railroad ties off St. Lucie County; a year later, divers recorded 17 fish species and heavy marine growthFlorida's groundbreaking initiative saw 500 tons of discarded railroad ties submerged offshore, creating a new artificial reef aimed at fos...
In 2022, Miami sank 345 tons of concrete from a demolished waterfront pier instead of dumping it; the rubble became a reef rising 8 feet from the seafloorMiami-Dade County has developed an innovative approach by creating artificial reefs using demolished concrete. The materials from Bentley B...
North Carolina dumped 7,200 tons of discarded concrete pipe onto bare ocean floor at AR-165; the reef later grew to include 3 retired tugboats for fish habitatIn North Carolina, marine biologists are transforming sunken tugboats and concrete pipes into artificial reefs, enhancing the habitat for n...
Hawaii’s abandoned fishing nets once trapped marine life; now they are being turned into electricitySince 1996, Hawaii has successfully collected 848 metric tons of abandoned fishing nets, significantly reducing marine pollution. These net...
Amid layoff news, how 7 million oysters saved 1,000 jobs and environment in USMore than 7 million oysters have helped protect over 1,000 aquaculture and related jobs in the US while supporting marine conservation. The...
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 late 2020, New Jersey crews placed nearly 6,000 tons of retired container-inspection concrete forms on the seafloor off Manasquan, adding about 1.25 acres of reef habitatIn a significant environmental initiative, New Jersey's Bureau of Marine Fisheries has installed approximately 6,000 tons of concrete reef ...
In 2004, Texas sank 152 discarded concrete power poles weighing 1,457 tons in the Gulf; the unusual load became an artificial reef 130 feet underwaterIn 2004, an innovative project transformed discarded concrete utility poles into an artificial reef within the Gulf of Mexico. A total of 1...
Texas sank a 113-metre cargo ship in 2017; What divers discovered just 7 months later was remarkableIn 2017, Texas deliberately sank the 113-metre cargo ship Kraken in the Gulf of Mexico, to create an artificial reef . The 499 tonne vessel...
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...
Since 2010, Maryland has reclaimed 308,500 bushels of discarded oyster shells for Chesapeake Bay restoration; its wider effort has planted billions of oystersMaryland has repurposed over 300,000 bushels of used oyster shells since 2010, creating essential habitats for the growth of young oysters ...
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...