Artificial Reefs

Artificial reefs provide new or enhanced hard-bottom habitat to areas that may or may not be habitat limited. Artificial habitat provides space that is quickly colonized by sessile organisms and provides new food sources, greater protection of juveniles by providing more space to be used as refuge, and a possible focal point for aggregating adults to spawn. Properly sited, constructed and managed reef sites, particularly multiple-site complexes, can be used to meet a variety of objectives. Traditionally, the majority of artificial reefs in United States coastal marine waters have been sited and built to enhance recreational fishing.