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Photo copyright: Jennifer Podis

What Are Artificial Reefs and Why Do We Need Them?
Artificial reefs are man-made habitats built from various materials including rock, old ships, heavy-gauge steel structures, concrete, and prefabricated modules. They are placed in areas away from natural reefs, creating new marine life communities.

Over the last several decades, both nearshore and deeper offshore habitats for many fish and shellfish have been significantly reduced or heavily impacted by coastal development, accidents, and severe storms. The reduction of these habitats, along with increased pressures on our remaining coastal resources, has led to declines in many marine life populations. Each year, it seems another fishery or marine animal becomes heavily regulated or protected.

Artificial reefs provide food, shelter, protection, and spawning areas for hundreds of species of fish and other marine organisms. They also provide alternate areas for use by scuba divers and anglers, reducing the user pressures on natural reefs. Palm Beach County has greater than 60 artificial reefs and more are constructed every year. A Socioeconomic Study of Reef Resources was conducted to assess the economic value of our reefs, including artificial reefs, in 2001. The economic value contributed by our reefs to Palm Beach County is over $505 million annually and over 6,300 jobs per year are supported. Approximately a third of the jobs and income is attributed to our artificial reefs alone.

History of Palm Beach County's Artificial Reef Program
Palm Beach County's involvement in constructing artificial reefs began in the l960's. At that time, the County and the West Palm Beach Fishing Club established the "East Palm Beach Reef." The reef was created by sinking several ships: a 165' Navy Patrol Craft (PC l174), a 185' private yacht called the Mizpah, and the 440' freighter Amaryllis.

A turning point for the program was reached in 1985, when the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners officially appointed the Palm Beach County Artificial Reef Committee. The Committee is comprised of local governmental officials, commercial and recreational anglers, SCUBA divers, scientists, and conservationists. The Committee meets regularly to discuss artificial reef business and the public is encouraged to attend. Since 1987, Palm Beach County's Department of Environmental Resources Management has been responsible for providing staff support for the Committee and administering the Artificial Reef Program.

In 1991, the Committee was given the responsibility of estuarine enhancement. The group changed its name accordingly, and is now known as the Artificial Reef and Estuarine Enhancement Committee. Estuarine restoration activities started with Munyon Island and continue with John's Island, Peanut Island, and Snook Island restoration projects. In addition, numerous smaller restoration projects have been completed within the Lake Worth Lagoon.

Funding
Funding for the Artificial Reef Program comes from the County's Vessel Registration Trust Fund. These fees, used strictly to build environmental enhancement projects, are supplemented by grants from the Federal government (Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration), State government (Marine Resources FWC Conservation Trust Fund-Saltwater Fishing License), Florida Inland Navigation District, various fishing tournaments, local dive associations, and generous corporate and individual private donations. Volunteers from local fishing and diving clubs sometimes help clean and prepare ships for sinking.

Looking Ahead
The County has scuttled more than 25 wrecks and barges and placed many thousands of tons of limestone and concrete structures on the ocean floor off Palm Beach County beaches and in the Lake Worth Lagoon. These artificial reefs have created a diversity of habitats to benefit our marine environment, anglers, scuba divers, and all of Palm Beach County's residents and visitors.

The County continues to make innovative use of natural rock, wrecks, and reef structures as it strives to create a balanced and diverse enhancement of the marine habitat resources of our coastal and inshore waters. Snook Ledges in the Lake Worth Lagoon and the Habitat Corridors linking isolated artificial reefs offshore are two examples that illustrate this philosophy of balance, diversity, and innovation. Our goal is to create, restore, and enhance fisheries and marine habitat resources that have been lost or degraded by development.

Getting Involved
Educating the public and disseminating information about projects are vital parts of the Artificial Reef Program. If you would like to view more detailed information about any of Palm Beach County's artificial reefs, or updates on new projects, please visit the website at http://www.pbcgov.com/erm/coastal/reef/locations/ or call ERM at 561-233-2400.

Monitoring
The artificial reefs are monitored to document the physical state of the reef and the utilization of the reef by fish and benthic organisms. Monitoring activities include taking photographs and videos of the reef, recording physical conditions, fish assemblages, and photo documenting benthic invertebrates encrusting the artificial reefs. To view monitoring information on each artificial reef, select the reef from http://www.pbcgov.com/erm/coastal/reef/locations/.

Since 1991, a group of volunteer divers formed the Palm Beach County Reef Research Team have monitored the artifical reefs and provided valuable data to ERM.

Protecting Our Investment
The County strives to manage and improve the quality of its artificial reefs. Most reefs are constructed within recreation diving limits.

Artificial Reef Brochure and Map

Current Artificial Reef Projects

WARNING: Many artificial fishing reefs lie in water depths that exceed the recommended sport diving limitations. Any swimmer, diver, or snorkeler shall approach or visit each artificial reef at his or her own risk. The Palm Beach County Artificial Reef Program and Committee, the Board of County Commissioners of Palm Reach County, and the County of Palm Beach are not responsible for any hazards which may exist or arise on, about, or near the artificial reefs, or for any injuries or fatalities which may occur as a result of any person's presence on, about, or near the artificial reefs.

• Munyon Island
• John's Island
• Peanut Island
• Snook Island
• Lake Worth Lagoon

• Read the latest Environmental Times newsletter
• FPL Press Release: FPL launches online Manatee Cam
• See what’s going on in the Lake Worth Lagoon
• Find out the status of Environmental Restoration and Natural Areas projects