Posts Tagged ‘artificial reefs’
Latest reefing effort brings partners together to create near-shore reef fish habitat
Coastal Conservation Association has announced plans for a $100,000 reef project off the Texas mid-coast, funded by CCA Texas, CCA National’s Building Conservation Habitat Program, Shell, Shimano and Frabill, in partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Artificial Reef Program. This latest step in CCA’s reefing program will bring valuable reef fish habitat and angling opportunities in the heart of the Texas coast at a time when it is needed most.
“In dealing with Gulf reef fish issues, working on advocacy issues alone is not enough,” said Robby Byers, executive director of CCA Texas. “Creating new, viable habitat is an equally important priority, and our membership is committed to putting significant structure in the water that will be a magnet for both fish and anglers. We are proud to be building a string of reefs along the coast, and proud to be working with corporate partners like Shimano and Shell to improve marine habitat and angling opportunities.”
“CCA does a first-rate job of initiating progressive efforts on behalf of people who fish in coastal regions,” said Phil Morlock, Director, Environmental Affairs, Shimano American Corp. “Thanks to CCA and Shell, this Texas reef project will provide great fishing opportunities for generations of anglers to enjoy and we are pleased to be a partner in this conservation effort.”
CCA’s habitat efforts combine both state chapter and national components of the organization. Last August, CCA Texas funded $50,000 for the expansion of the Vancouver Reef off Freeport, and has earmarked another $50,000 for a Port Mansfield reefing project in the fall. In December 2010, the CCA National Building Conservation Habitat Program announced a $1.5 million contribution from Shell Oil Company, with the first $250,000 going towards the Independence Island Reef in Louisiana’s Barataria Bay. The Building Conservation Habitat Program has contributed $60,000 to the Texas mid-coast reefing effort and is making plans for another reefing project in Alabama later this year.
“You have to go through a lot of hoops to get projects like these off the ground and into the water, but we are building real momentum with the habitat program. Tons of material are going into the water, and the pace is picking up,” said CCA National President Pat Murray. “When we get recreational anglers, private companies and state agencies all working together, we can accomplish great work.”
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CCA is the largest marine resource conservation group of its kind in the nation. With almost 100,000 members in 17 state chapters, CCA has been active in state, national and international fisheries management issues since 1977. For more information visit the CCA Newsroom at www.JoinCCA.org.
Tags: artificial reefs, CCA Building Conservation, habitat
Posted in CCA Building Conservation, CCA Gulf of Mexico | 1 Comment »
CCA Texas partners with state to add 250 tons of material to reef off Freeport
CCA Texas HTFT Director John Blaha with Dale Shively, head of TPWD's Artificial Reef Program
HOUSTON, TX – Texas anglers now have more fishing room at Vancouver Reef after more than 250 tons of concrete and granite reefing material were added to the popular fishing site this week through a cooperative effort of CCA Texas and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). The addition of the material marks the single largest addition to the reef since the original Liberty ship was sunk at the site off Freeport in 1976.
“This project is a win-win situation for anglers and for the resource. Creating reef habitat is not just about building biomass, it is also about creating a destination for recreational anglers to access the resource,” said John Blaha, director of CCA Texas’s Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT) program. “We learned a great deal during this project and will be looking to use that experience to build more habitat and create better angling opportunities for the future.”
The effort to expand Vancouver Reef began with CCA Texas securing 23 granite blocks from Texas A&M Galveston in 2009. After CCA Texas contributed $25,000 to moving those blocks to the Vancouver reef site, a private Houston foundation stepped up to support the project with another $25,000 donation. With $50,000 in hand, CCA Texas moved to expand the endeavor and sought additional partners. Ultimately, Old Castle Precast agreed to supply approximately 110 concrete catch basins and Dorsett Brothers Concrete provided storage and use of their docking facilities in Freeport.
“Once the ball was rolling, we were fortunate to have Dale Shively, head of the TPWD Artificial Reef Program, to work on an agreement to cover the logistics and costs of actually dropping all that material,” said Blaha. “There are a lot of complex, moving parts to a project like this and the partnerships that were forged throughout this process were key to its success. It was an awesome feeling to watch those rocks finally dropped into the Gulf.”
“This is the perfect example of how organizations can work together to improve habitat for marine life,” said Shively. “I look forward to working with CCA Texas on many more reefing projects.”
The CCA Texas habitat initiative was launched in 2009 and has already set in motion a number of projects important to Texas recreational anglers. In addition to the Vancouver expansion, CCA Texas has earmarked $50,000 for the Port Mansfield reefing project and another $35,000 for the Matagorda reef project. TPWD is currently securing permits from the Corps of Engineers to proceed with the Matagorda reef. Visit www.CCATexas.org for more information.
Detailed maps of the Vancouver and other reef sites are available from TPWD’s Artificial Reef Program, http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/habitats/artificial_reef/
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Tags: artificial reefs, marine habitat, Texas
Posted in CCA Building Conservation, CCA Gulf of Mexico | 3 Comments »
Jailhouse Reef under construction
A joint effort to build a new reef off Mississippi’s coast from the remains of a jailhouse destroyed by Hurricane Katrina is nearing completion. The Department of Marine Resources, U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor’s office, Coastal Conservation Association Mississippi and Mississippi Gulf Fishing Banks joined forces to build a new fishing reef in 8 feet of water, close to Buccaneer and Bayou Caddy. Jailhouse Reef will consist of three legs built in a half-moon shape. Spaces 10 to 15 feet wide are being placed between the legs, to facilitate water flow.
“With the looming environmental impacts of an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, creating habitat with projects like this has never been more important,” said Pat Murray, president of CCA.
The structure is being built of old concrete being donated by various sources, including the cities of Bay St. Louis and Waveland and Hancock County. Jailhouse Reef is so-named because its primary source of concrete comes from the former Hancock County Jail in Old Town in Bay St. Louis. The jail was ruined by high water and winds from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Concrete from the old jail will constitute much of the new reef, which will not only provide fish habitat but also help prevent beach erosion. The new reef is the third reef constructed off Mississippi in recent years, following Handkerchief Shoal Key off Bay St. Louis and another reef located south of Deer Island in Harrison County.
Tags: artificial reefs, Mississippi
Posted in CCA Building Conservation | No Comments »
CCA Louisiana and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enhanced two artificial reefs in Lake Pelto that will increase fisheries habitat while providing anglers with fishing opportunities within minutes of landings in Cocodrie and Dulac. The reefs were constructed of limestone, which provides hard-bottom habitat and are between one and two acres in size.
Bird Island Artificial Reef near Isle Denere was constructed in 2002 by CCA Louisiana, and Point Mast Artificial Reef near Wine Island was constructed by LDWF in 1985. Each of the sites will be rebuilt with 3,500 tons of limestone barged in from Kentucky to Lake Pelto, just off the coast of Terrebonne Parish.
Reef building materials were barged to the site and deployed by Bertucci Contractors at water depths averaging approximately 10 feet, providing bottom relief increases of 2 feet from current levels. Construction of the reef was initiated by a CCA Louisiana proposal to dedicate a portion of the Katrina recovery funds to repair damaged fisheries habitat. CCA Louisiana, LDWF, NOAA Office of Coast Survey, and T. Baker Smith of Houma partnered to complete this project.
CCA Louisiana President Gus Schram of Lake Charles said the reef project is an example of how private, public and non-profit organizations can work together for projects that bring about positive results.
“The artificial reefs CCA has helped build are big hits with fishermen,” said Schram. “These new close-to-shore reefs are very popular with many anglers who can now find good fishing opportunities without having to travel out long distances in larger boats.”
The location of the reef will be posted on the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries web site, www.wlf.state.la.us and at www.CCALouisiana.com.
Tags: artificial reefs
Posted in CCA Building Conservation | No Comments »
