Source: NCDEQ, 6/13/22
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Artificial Reef Program
completed several reef enhancements during the last weeks in May. The program completed the disposal of the old Oregon Inlet bridge,
part of a multi-year effort with the N.C. Department of Transportation. This
project included 68 barge loads of bridge material, totaling approximately
80,000 tons of concrete. The material was transported to eight different reef
sites: AR-130, AR-140, AR-145, and AR-160, all off Oregon Inlet; AR-250, and
AR-255, both off Ocracoke Inlet; AR-320, off Beaufort Inlet; and AR-340, off
Bogue Inlet. This was the largest amount of material associated with any
artificial reef project in the history of the Artificial Reef Program. Two reefs in Long Bay (AR-430 and AR-460) each received
approximately 1,500 tons of recycled concrete pipe. This project was funded by
Coastal Recreational Fishing License revenues and created new fishing
opportunities for anglers in Oak Island, Holden Beach, and Ocean Isle. All
3,000 tons of concrete pipe was donated, including approximately 1,100 tons
donated from Columbus and Bladen County DOT yards. Much of this pipe was
damaged during Hurricane Florence and would have otherwise cost DOT $65,000 for
disposal in a landfill. The Artificial Reef Program partnered with two external
organizations for memorial reef projects: Veteran Memorial Reefs and Eternal
Reefs. Each of these organizations place cremated ashes of loved ones in
concrete reef structures or reef balls which are later deployed at a reef site.
These memorial markers and reef balls were placed at AR-372 off Wrightsville
Beach and AR-360 off Topsail, respectively. Family members were able to attend
the deployments of the memorials. The Artificial Reef Program partnered with the Coastal
Conservation Association of North Carolina to enhance AR-291, near Bayview, in
the Pamlico River. Materials were purchased by CCA from Natrx, a Raleigh-based
company who 3D printed 100 concrete reef structures for this project. The
deployment of these structures was funded by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Sportfish Restoration Grant that supports the Artificial Reef Program. Anglers
in the area can look forward to speckled trout and striped bass fishing on the
reef this summer and fall. An artificial reef is a manmade
underwater structure, typically built to promote marine life in areas with a
generally featureless bottom. In North Carolina, they serve as crucial spawning
and foraging habitat for many commercially and recreationally important fish
species. The Division maintains 68
artificial reefs, located from estuarine waters to 38 miles from shore. They
are situated so that they can be reached from every maintained inlet in the
state. For more information, about the program or the
vessel sinking, contact Artificial Reef Program Coordinator Jordan Byrum at 252-808-8036 or Jordan.Byrum@ncdenr.gov. Download photos of the reef deployments
at https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/news-media/recent-artificial-reef-project-photos.
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