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| A vessel being sunk for an artificial reef - NJDEP photo |
New Jersey's Artificial Reef Program provides a network of 15 artificial reefs in the ocean waters along the New Jersey coast. These reefs provide a hard substrate for fish, shellfish and crustaceans, fishing grounds for anglers, and underwater structures for scuba divers. The reefs are strategically located along the coast so that one site is within easy boat range of 12 New Jersey ocean inlets.
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. Every deployment of additional materials increases the complexity and productivity of a reef.
The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Administration is planning two deployments off the coast this week as part of the Artificial Reef Program.
The first deployment, a 150-foot long caisson gate, is scheduled for the morning of Monday, June 8, on the Deepwater Reef site. A caisson gate is a barrier used to dam off the open end of a dry dock, and is constructed of heavy gauge steel with several tons of ballast in the keel. Due to the nature of construction and heavy gauge of steel, this deployment will serve as marine habitat for the next 75 years or more. The deployment is sponsored by The Sportfishing Fund, an organization dedicated to artificial reef building.
Deployments of caisson gates in 2019 were on the Atlantic City and Cape May reefs.
The links below are to information about upcoming and past deployments.
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