Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Artificial reefs are constructed by intentionally placing dense materials, such as old ships and barges, concrete and steel demolition debris and dredge rock on the sea floor within designated reef sites. They provide structure on an otherwise sandy bottom to attract organisms and create a reef habitat. Over time, the reefs will form and attract a multitude of different species. The benefits of artificial reefs are endless. Reef structures become valuable fishing grounds for anglers. Sunken ships and subway cars provide an excellent place for divers to explore.
At present, there are 17 artificial reefs with over 4,371 deployments off the coast of New Jersey with the possibility of new additions every day. The reefs are strategically located along the coast so that 1 site is within easy boat range of 12 New Jersey ocean inlets. Within each reef site, which range in size from one-half to over four square miles, numerous “patch reefs” have been constructed. A patch reef is a one-half to 5-acre area where one barge load of material has been deployed. In total, over 1200 patch reefs have been constructed on the state’s 17 reef sites since the program began. Reefs are now being used extensively by anglers and divers who catch sea bass, blackfish, porgy and lobster.
What is the Artificial Reef Program?
The New Jersey Artificial Reef Program was created in 1984 by New Jersey DEP’s Fish and Wildlife with permitting through the United States Army Corps of Engineers to provide the development of an artificial reef system with oversight and environmental standards. The program started with just 4 reef locations. By 1994, it grew to 14 permitted sites from Sandy Hook to Cape May, and as of 2016 stands at 17 reef sites.
The Artificial Reef Program conducts reef monitoring through a ventless trap survey . Now in the sixth year, this technique studies the success and productivity of reef sites. Through this survey, we can determine how species utilize different material types and how they use the reefs during different seasons. The benefited species (like black sea bass, tautog, summer flounder, lobster, and various crabs) are endemic to New Jersey but are limited in extent and abundance by the lack of hard substrate. Such studies help assess the effectiveness of reef construction efforts in providing habitat for New Jersey’s marine life.
The artificial reef system supports recreational fisheries for several important species, contributing to the $2.5 billion economic benefit of NJ’s fishing industry. The intent of the program is not to change New Jersey’s marine environment, but rather to enhance a small portion of the sea floor off New Jersey to benefit marine species and stakeholders.
BEFORE
There are many different types of materials that are used for artificial reefs. Materials include concrete, steel and rock. Before a sinking, these materials undergo a vigorous preparation process so that they are safe and meet environmental standards that have been put in place.
AFTER
Deployment of materials has had great success in developing habitat for different species in the waters off the coast of New Jersey. A subway car (right) that was sunk years ago is now structure teeming with life—coral, tautog, sea stars, cunner, and scup just to name a few.
