artificial Reefs
The Destin fishery has an extensive network of artificial reefs, with literally hundreds of them known to the public. An artificial reef can be made of almost any inert, ecofriendly material... concrete culverts, debris from deconstructed bridges, decommissioned army tanks, sunken ships, and more recently, molded concrete fish habitats. These items, when sunk to the ocean floor, create a habitat that congregates fish of various species and sizes. This is why they are so popular among fishermen as "hot spots".
How they got there
These artificial reefs were deployed mostly by state and county agencies with the help of government and private grants. The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Coastal Resources Team, funded by the Okaloosa County lodging tax, is extensively involved in creating new artificial reefs and monitoring the health of existing reefs.
We also have the Emerald Coast Reef Association which is a private organization that helps design and deploy artificial reefs for our area. You are encouraged to do your part and join the ECRA today! If you do not wish to join, you can make a donation by clicking below, as well.
