Media Release, News

Bay County Continues Artificial Reef Deployment in Federal Waters of the Gulf of America

PANAMA CITY, FL – The Bay County Board of County Commissioners, in partnership with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), is set to deploy the second phase of the NRDA-funded artificial reef project on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. This deployment will take place in Large Area Artificial Reef Site B (LAARS B), a designated and permitted area in federal waters of the Gulf of America, approximately 17 to 31 nautical miles offshore from St. Andrew Pass.

This project is managed by FWC as a State of Florida Trustee under the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) program as part of the settlement for damages resulting from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The NRDA Early Restoration Plan (ERP) Phase III focuses on restoring and enhancing marine ecosystems while increasing long-term recreational opportunities for anglers and divers.

This deployment will feature a mix of Super Reefs with internal layered habitat discs and vertical poles extending an additional 10 feet from the base. These enhancements increase habitat complexity and biodiversity, ensuring a wide range of marine life can utilize the structures at varying depths. The modules range from 15 to 25 feet in height, creating a more productive reef ecosystem.

This is the second of three planned deployments within LAARS B over the coming weeks. The artificial reef sites are being placed at varying depths ranging from 101 to 138 feet to provide optimal habitat conditions for reef-associated fish species.

Who:

Bay County Board of County Commissioners
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Artificial Reef Program
UF/IFAS Extension Bay County, Florida Sea Grant
Walter Marine (Artificial Reef Contractor)
Eli Myron, FWC Artificial Reef Program Representative
Scott Jackson, UF/IFAS Extension Bay County, Florida Sea Grant

What:

Deployment of 10 prefabricated Super Reef artificial reef modules made of marine-grade concrete.
Some modules will include EcoDiscs to enhance colonization by encrusting organisms and use by baitfish and juvenile fish.
Some Extra-Large pyramid style reefs will have vertical poles extending 10 feet from the base, increasing total height to 25 feet.
Modules provide varying relief heights, maximizing habitat diversity for reef-associated fish species.
This is the second of three planned deployments under the NRDA-funded Northwest Florida Regional Artificial Reef Project.

Where:

Large Area Artificial Reef Site B (LAARS B), federal waters of the Gulf of America
Approximately 17 to 31 nautical miles from St. Andrew Pass
Depths: 101 – 138 feet

Why:

Restoring marine habitat impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
Enhancing reef-associated fish populations and marine biodiversity.
Expanding fishing and diving opportunities in Northwest Florida.
Supporting long-term fisheries conservation and restoration efforts.

This deployment represents a significant step in marine habitat restoration and sustainable fisheries management. The public is encouraged to follow updates on this and future reef projects through Bay County’s official channels.