NOAA Charges Florida Dive Charter Businesses for Fishing Without Federal Permits
December 10, 2008
NOAA has charged two dive business owners in Pensacola, Fla., with illegally operating spearfishing charters without the appropriate permits in federal waters off the Florida panhandle.
NOAA and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched an investigation in summer 2007 after NOAA special agents in Niceville, Fla., received several complaints about illegal spearfishing charters running out to the USS Oriskany artificial reef and other popular dive spots off Florida’s northern Gulf coast.
Undercover officers chartered trips on the vessel Daisy D., owned and operated by Jeffery Michael Folds of Southern Offshore Adventures, and the Y-Knot, owned and operated by David John Mucci of Blue Water Adventures. Folds was charged with three counts – operating without a federal charter permit, prohibited use of a powerhead (a device with an explosive charge) to take reef fish, and making a false statement to law enforcement officials.
The proposed fine against Folds is $19,000. Mucci was charged with one count of operating without a federal charter permit and the proposed fine against him is $12,500.
Both men have 30 days from the date they received their notices of violations to request a hearing before an administrative law judge. Mucci received his notice on Nov. 7 and Folds on Nov.19.
“It is important that spearfishing charter operators understand they need the same permits as any other fishing charter operating in federal waters,” said Allan Coker, NOAA special agent in Niceville.
Anyone with information involving illegal spearfishing charters should contact NOAA’s Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement national hotline at 1-800-853-1964.
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov
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U.S. Army Divers to Assist State Agencies in tire Clean Up at Saltwater State Park
August 21, 2008
OLYMPIA – As part of a joint clean-up effort, 20 members of the U.S. Army Dive Company are taking to the waters of Puget Sound to remove hundreds of old tires located offshore at Saltwater State Park near Des Moines.
Work on the project, sponsored by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and coordinated by the Northwest Straits Commission, is scheduled for the third week in August. The tire removal effort helps support the Puget Sound Initiative — a comprehensive effort by local, state, federal and tribal governments, business, agricultural and environmental communities, scientists and the public to restore and protect Puget Sound.
In addition to the dive team, partners involved in the project include the U.S. Army Reserve, the state Department of Ecology, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Washington SCUBA Alliance — a group of recreational divers that first recommended the project at Saltwater State Park.
Plans to remove the tires, which were sunk off the park in the 1970s to create an artificial reef for fish habitat and recreational divers, were already in place when the Army offered assistance, said Greg Bargmann, WDFW marine ecosystem manager. “The Army was interested in combining training exercises for its dive team with public service projects and contacted us about efforts in Puget Sound,” Bargmann said. “We were already making plans for the tire removal and excited to take them up on the offer.”
Bargmann said the divers, who are based in Fort Eustis, Virginia, are helping at no cost to the state. The Tacoma-based U.S. Army Reserve Water Craft Unit 709th TC (FC) will provide transportation for the divers and will remove and transfer the tires.
WDFW is coordinating the tire-removal project with a grant awarded by the state Department of Ecology, which disperses funds made available by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Ecology will also handle final disposal of the tires.
Bargmann estimates that more than 500 tires are sunk in 50-60 feet of water over approximately 55 acres off the shore of Saltwater State Park. The tires were placed there in the 1970s when it was common in the United States to use tires as artificial reefs. Those reefs are now considered environmental hazards and projects are in place across the nation to remove them, Bargmann said.
Once the tires are removed, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is planning to construct a replacement reef, which will be made from rocks, pre-cast concrete post and artificial kelp. The project, designed with help from WDFW, is intended to attract underwater sea life, said Hope Gibson, project manager for State Parks. The building materials will be stable and are made of materials that are environmentally safe, Gibson said.
“This is a great cooperative project and WDFW is very appreciative of the skills, labor and funding provided by these partners,” Bargmann said. “Cleaning up Puget Sound is an immense task and more successes will be possible through joint efforts such as these.”
In addition to contributing to the dive project, Ecology is cleaning up piles of discarded land-based tires across the state. Funded by a $1 fee on each new vehicle replacement tire, the agency’s tire cleanup program has removed more than five million tires from the environment since 2007.
The Army divers will also take part in a project to remove derelict fishing gear in Puget Sound, including Deception Pass State Park, located at the northern end of Whidbey Island, Bargmann said.
“The pass is one of many areas that contain discarded fishing gear, nets and abandoned shrimp and crab pots that are posing significant threats to the marine resources in Puget Sound,” he said.
The Northwest Straits Commission is overseeing the derelict gear removal.
Saltwater State Park is an 88-acre marine camping park with 1,445 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound. The park is located halfway between Tacoma and Seattle.
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North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Reports - 6/23/2008
June 23, 2008
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For the 2008 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters. Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
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Ocean: Offshore catches were moderate-good, with limits of dolphin, along with some yellow and blackfin tuna, amberjack, wahoo, king mackerel, and assorted sharks. Billfish catches were much improved, with nice specimens of blue and white marlin being caught. A few sailfish were also caught. Midrange catches consisted of amberjack in the 30-35 lb. range along with large quantities of blueline tilefish and triggerfish. These fish were all caught in the same general area - about 4 miles offshore near the artificial reef AR-160 (Zane Gray). Black seabass, red drum, and striped bass were also caught in these same waters. Inshore action was somewhat slow, but nice catches of bluefish and spotted seatrout were caught in the near-shore surf zone when it is accessible on calm days.  Â
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Spotted seatrout and red drum were the most abundant species throughout the area with early morning hours at the Melvin Daniels Bridge being the best time to catch them. Flounder catches were much-improved throughout these waters with some citation size specimens caught in the shallow waters around the islands and land masses at Oregon Inlet. Keeper ratios were very good with well over 50% of them being legal keeping size. There were some nice catches of spotted seatrout and weakfish in this same area.Â
Piers/Shore: Spanish mackerel and bluefish catches were nothing short of fantastic if you are were at the right time for some short-term/high-volume action. I observed limits of both caught by anglers in less than 20 minutes in one location, where all those with a line in the water caught them. These fish were caught by pier and shore anglers using assorted spoons and jigs. Most were hooked in the near-shore surf zone on. Atlantic croaker, kingfish, puffers, flounder, burrfish, weakfish, spot, and assorted others were also caught.Â
General Overview: Favorable weather conditions allowed anglers to have fair-good success rates in all the fishing zones. Water temps in the surf are in the mid-70’s throughout the Outer Banks. Weather conditions are predicted favorable for the coming week.  Â
Central District:Â Pamlico, Craven, Carteret, & Onslow Counties
For the 2008 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters.
Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
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Ocean: Dolphin and king mackerel were found at Buoy #14, West Rock, Big 10-Little 10, 240 Rock and the Atlas tanker. Dolphin were thick in the Gulf Stream - ( both gaffers and shingles). Quite a few billfish were reported. Headboats caught seabass, snapper and grouper. The Cape Lookout Shoals were thick with Spanish and, of course, bluefish are everywhere. Chopper blues are still around the Beaufort Inlet and off Shackleford.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Fishing the inside waters was rather slow. Anglers looking for sea trout had a hard time, and most came in with one or none at all. The same goes for the flounder fishermen. There were many released, undersized flounder reported. The Turning Basin at the port saw some nice sized pigfish and an occasional sea mullet. This area is also full of lizardfish and small shark. Red Drum and a few spotted seatrout were found at the east and west end of Bear Island, and Eastman’s Creek
Piers/Shore:Â Tarpon were caught off the piers at Topsail along with blues and Spanish. In Carteret County there are small spot, croaker, sea mullet and pompano. Blues and Spanish can be hooked at the far end of the piers.
Southern District:Â Pender, New Hanover, & Brunswick Counties
For the 2008 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters.
Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
Â
Ocean: Fishing has really slowed down. Not much was caught in the stream last week. It has been a good year on the dolphin and wahoo, but the tuna were a no-show this year. Bottom fishing has been good the last couple of months. Plenty of red groupers, along with some scamps and gags. The reds are biting from 30 to 55-mile offshore while the gags can be found much closer. Most ledges and wrecks in the 15 to 20-mile range are holding amberjack, king mackerel, and some nice gags. The dolphin have really moved closer to the beach with some gaffers as close as 8 miles out. The shark hole gave up some big king mackerel last week, and earlier in the week there was a decent bite at Yaupon. Speaking of Yaupon, the flounder should start showing up there in the next 2 to 3 weeks. Spanish have been biting well along the area beaches.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Not much change from last week. Flounder are still being caught in the Cape Fear as well as Lockwood. Sight fishing for drum around Topsail has been outstanding with the clear water conditions, and some nice trout are still coming from the creeks and bays around Bald Head Island and Oak Island. Early and late have been the times to catch the trout.
Piers/Shore: Brunswick County piers are doing outstanding on the trout in the morning hours. Live shrimp is the hot bait. Along with the trout there are some keeper flounder, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, pompano, spots, and sea mullet. New Hanover and Pender County piers are doing well on the Spanish mackerel, pompano, sea mullet, some keeper flounder, and they also had some king mackerel catches as well. Surf fishing is yielding some sea mullet and pompanos.
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Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley Honored As Sportsmen’s Best Friend Of The Year
June 16, 2008
Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative Partner, Mike Baker of Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project Honored with Hero of Chesapeake Bay Award
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Tonight, the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation (MLSF) presented Governor Martin O’Malley with its prestigious Sportsmen’s Best Friend of the Year Award at its 7th Annual Banquet and Auction attended by approximately 300 people. MLSF also presented Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative Partner, Mike Baker of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project with their annual Hero of the Chesapeake Bay Award.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized by Maryland’s original conservationists,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “From our earliest days, Marylanders have taught their children how to fish and hunt, and how to appreciate the breathtaking outdoor surroundings for which our State is so blessed. And it is only by working together as One Maryland that we have made and will continue to make progress in sustainably managing our natural resources to ensure that fishing and hunting remains affordable, accessible, and memorable for current and future generations.”
The Foundation selected Governor O’Malley as the recipient of the award to recognize his leadership on environmental issues critical to Maryland’s sportsmen and women.
“Look at the Governor’s record,” said Senator John Astle, Democratic Co-Chair of the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. ”He stands with the sportsmen of Maryland on all fronts, meaning he wants what we want and he goes after them. Enactment of the 2010 Trust Fund, a fully-funded Program Open Space, compliance with a financial commitment to the recreational fishing community, rebuilding of the Bay’s beleaguered blue crab population, promotion of fishing habitat and oyster reefs through the Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative, advocacy for sustainable forestry and a strengthened Critical Areas law, just to name a few.”
Republican Co-Chair of the Caucus, Delegate Richard B. Weldon, Jr. echoed Senator Astle’s sentiments.
“When it comes to the traditional rights of sportsmen to hunt, fish and trap, there are no partisan boundaries,” Delegate Weldon said. “We all want available open space land in which to hunt and a clean watershed in which to fish. And, in the final analysis, we’re all conservationists which need to stand together. I commend the Foundation for its decision to honor Governor O’Malley as the Foundation’s Sportsmen’s Best Friend of the Year. And, I commend the Foundation for its unrivaled efforts to build bridges with other stakeholder community groups which share our same conservation-minded values.”
MLSF also honored Mike Baker for his role in managing the creation of five artificial reefs in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay through recycling 60,000 tons of clean concrete from the old Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
“I also want to thank Mike Baker for his leadership to bring various government and private partners together to improve fish habitat in the Chesapeake Bay through projects with the Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative,” added O’Malley. “The Initiative’s success in creating five new reefs in just over one year is quite remarkable.”
Governor O’Malley prioritized our natural resources though a more balanced budget that includes an additional $25 million in funding for Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts; fully funding Program Open Space; an additional $750,000 to improve fisheries management and restore habitat; an enhancement of more than $4 million to ensure sustainable management and quality outdoor recreational opportunities in our state parks; and $3 million for new Chesapeake Bay oyster and habitat restoration projects. Governor O’Malley also strengthened Maryland’s critical areas law to ensure more adequate protection from development of the most environmentally sensitive and significant lands within Maryland’s Chesapeake and Coastal Bays watersheds. Protecting vegetation and natural, living shoreline of our Bays will help protect water quality and fish habitat.
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North Carolina Regional Saltwater Fishing Reports - 6/8/2008
June 8, 2008
Northern District Dare, Hyde, Currituck, & Beaufort Counties
For the 2008 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters. Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
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Ocean: Offshore catches were more diverse, with moderate-good catches of dolphin, wahoo, king mackerel. amberjack, little tunny, Atlantic bonito, and both yellow and blackfin tuna. Billfish catches increased. Midrange anglers continued to catch striped bass and red drum about two miles offshore from Kitty Hawk southward to the Pea Island area, but with less regularity than previously. Anglers fishing the artificial reef AR-160 (Zane Gray) caught plenty of gray triggerfish and black seabass. Inshore catches consisted of bluefish and spotted seatrout with a host of others mixed in. Bluefish were caught throughout the day with short-term/high-volume catches being had by all anglers who are there at the right time. Spotted seatrout catches were very good in the early morning hours in the near shore surf zone when it was accessible.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Spotted seatrout and red drum were the most abundant species caught in these waters. Catches of both, that were previously concentrated near the Melvin Daniels Bridge/Roanoke Sound area, were made throughout the area with increased regularity this week. Flounder catches improved modestly with well over 50% of them being legal keeping size. Sheepshead and tautog were caught near the bridge pilings at Oregon Inlet on a regular basis.
Piers/Shore: Catches of bluefish and spotted seatrout shared with the inshore boat anglers were most common, with a host of others thrown in. Cobia catches off of the local piers continued to be very good, especially at night.  Â
General Overview: Record high temps and smoke from ongoing wildfires caused anglers to limit their fishing efforts somewhat, but those who toughed it out had moderate-good success rates in all modes of fishing most of the time. Water temps in the surf throughout the Outer Banks continue to rise, with upper 60s-lower 70s at all locations.  Â
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Central District Pamlico, Craven, Carteret, & Onslow Counties
For the 2008 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters.
Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
Â
Ocean: Dolphin and kings can be found at the 90 Foot Drop and Northwest Places. Good sized wahoo are around Buoy 14. Kings can also be found at AR 355 and the Xmas Rock along with amberjacks. There seems no shortage of dolphin - like the bluefish - they are found everywhere. Headboats are continuing to do well with snapper, grouper, sea bass, grunts and triggers. Spanish mackerel are around both Beaufort and Bogue Inlets and down the beaches in all directions. They are in 10 to 20 feet of water. There are reports that chopper blues are still here. Sailfish have been hooked and released this past week.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: All the Spanish and blues you could wish for are around the Inlets. Anglers are looking for cobia. Nice sea mullet are scattered in the Turning Basin and around the Cape Lookout Shoals. One or two red drum have been hooked from the Swansboro area and the Newport River. Anglers are also catching a good-sized trout here and there. One angler had three nice flounder caught somewhere east of Beaufort, along with about 15 undersized released flounder.
Piers/Shore: Spot, pigfish, sea mullet, croaker, have been hooked along with sharks. There are also many sharks in the Intracoastal Waterway off Swansboro. Bluefish and Spanish continue to be caught from the end of the piers. Â
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Southern District Pender, New Hanover, & Brunswick Counties
For the 2008 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters.
Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
Â
Ocean: Offshore, it was another banner week for the dolphin. Along with the dolphin there were some decent wahoo catches. Large red grouper continue to bite well in the 45 to 55-mile range. Closer to shore, school size king mackerel are biting well on most ledges in the 10 to 30-mile range. These same areas are producing amberjacks, gags, and the occasional cobia. The Spanish mackerel have been thick along area beaches of late.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Trout fishing seem to slow some last week. Best catches are coming in the morning hours. Fish are being caught on live shrimp, top water, and D.O.A shrimp. Flounder fishing has been better so far this year than last, with fish over five pounds being seen at area ramps. Carolina Beach Inlet and the Cape Fear River have been producing the bigger flounder of late.
Piers/Shore: Fishing has been good. Topsail Island piers reported several tarpon catches last week. They also caught some kings and a few cobia as well. Spanish fishing has been outstanding at times. Spanish were reported on the New Hanover piers as well, and Brunswick County piers are doing good on the trout. Live shrimp has been the ticket.
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Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative Creates New Reef Off Ocean City Coast With Retired New York City Subway Cars
May 21, 2008
OCEAN CITY, MD — Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative (MARI) partners including the Ocean City Reef Foundation, MTA New York City Transit, the town of Ocean City, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), placed 44 retired New York City subway cars off Maryland’s Atlantic coast for creation of a new artificial reef, the Susan J. Power reef.
“In Maryland, fishing is not only a favorite pastime, but also a cultural tradition and source of economic stimulus for local communities,” said Governor O’Malley. “The commitment and accomplishments of the Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative partners and the Ocean City Reef Foundation to rebuild marine habitat has been critical to renew our valuable fishing heritage and habitat.”
The Jackspot reef site, the first of five possible sites off of Maryland’s Atlantic coast, is approximately 19 miles southeast of Ocean City, Md., and represents MARI’s first coastal project. The site will eventually include as many as 600 retired subway cars, and is expected to become a regional fishing and diving destination.
“For the last 11 years we have been placing artificial reef structures aimed at improving the marine environment, but the new reef at the Jackspot is by far the biggest project we have ever undertaken,” said Greg Hall, President of the Ocean City Reef Foundation. “It’s pretty amazing to go back to reef sites and see the area covered in mussels and swarming with marine life, even as soon as six months after initial placement.”
The Ocean City Reef Foundation started raising funds for the new reef last November, when the New York City subway cars became available. A $50,000 donation from Jack and Susan Power supported the first shipment of cars to be transported to the site. Additional car placements are planned for the upcoming months as funding becomes available.
“By supporting the Ocean City Reef Foundation’s New York City Transit Authority project we knew we could directly and immediately make a positive difference in our coastal resources and fishing opportunities,“ said Jack Power, Holland Point resident. “Our hope in kicking off this effort is that other individuals, organizations and businesses support this tremendous initiative. Everyone will benefit for decades to come.”
“We are very excited about this addition to the artificial reefs,” said Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan. “Fishing is a part of Ocean City’s heritage. These reefs provide quality habitat for marine life off our coast which benefits not only the environment but also local businesses, visitors and City residents.”
The creation of three-dimensional reefs emulates historic vibrant marine communities, such as oyster beds and coral reefs, critical to supporting diverse species of fish that were once prolific along the Atlantic coast. Using a new documentary and promotional DVD created by world-renowned underwater filmmaker, Nick Caloyianis, MARI partners will continue to raise public awareness and financial donations to support fish habitat restoration through artificial reefs. Caloyianis is expected to dive at the Jackspot reef soon after the cars have been placed to provide initial documentation for progression of reef growth.
“Using the rail cars to create new reefs helps accelerate the rebuilding of many important species along Maryland’s coast,” said Captain Monty Hawkins, member of the Maryland Artificial Reef Advisory Committee. “The only thing ‘artificial’ is the substrate; all the life is natural. Local anglers and divers often recall a time when the ocean seemed so full of life that its diminishment seemed impossible. I think artificial reef construction is a key component to restoring that past. This project is a huge step toward rebuilding many of our region’s fisheries.”
MARI recently celebrated its first anniversary, raising nearly $1.4 million to support reef projects around the state. In collaboration with the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, MARI deployed more than 50,000 tons of concrete material from the old Woodrow Wilson Bridge to create four major reef sites: Point No Point off St. Mary’s County; Cedar Point at the mouth of the Patuxent River; Tangier Sound off Crisfield; and the Gooses Reef just west of the Little Choptank River. Monitoring by divers and fishery biologists indicates that invertebrate communities and multiple species of fish have started to inhabit all four of the reef sites.
More than 50 partnering conservation organizations, businesses, foundations, outdoor recreational organizations, and countless individuals have provided resources to make MARI possible. Individuals can help with reef projects across the State by “buying a ton” via a tax-deductible donation to the Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative. The Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative was created in early 2007 to raise funds to facilitate development of marine habitat enhancement projects across the state. For more information about the Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative, visit www.marylandreefs.org.
The Ocean City Reef Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Tax-deductible donations to the Subway Car Project may be sent to the Ocean City Reef Foundation, PO Box 1072, Ocean City, MD 21843. For further information about the OCRF please call 410-208-0064, or visit http://www.ocreeffoundation.com/.
Photos from the reefing event… click on the photo for a higher resolution file.
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