New Artificial Reef Sites Deployed off Pensacola
Walter Marine worked with the Escambia County Marine Resources Division to deploy 217 concrete modules across 43 artificial reef sites off Pensacola, Florida.
The reefs were placed approximately 4.5 nautical miles southeast of Pensacola Pass in water depths ranging from approximately 45 to 55 feet. The project expands habitat for Gulf marine life while creating additional destinations for recreational fishing, diving and scientific research.
Designed to Support Research and Marine Habitat
The reefs were constructed and arranged through an experimental design process intended to provide researchers with information about the performance of different artificial reef configurations. The collaboration included Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Sea Grant, the University of West Florida and local high-school science educators and students.
Thirty-nine sites were supported by $500,000 in Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment funding. Additional funding from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission supported three sites, while friends and family privately funded a memorial reef honoring the late Capt. Robert Edward “Eddie” Lively.
Source: This is an original ReefMaker summary based on reporting from WEAR-TV. Read the original report.