MONROE COUNTY’S FIRST ARTIFICIAL REEF IN NEW PROGRAM PLACED OFF KEY WEST USING UPCYCLED POWER POLES

KEY WEST, FL— On Tuesday, Monroe County Artificial Reefs Department deployed 10 of 45 power poles at a new reef area approximately 16 nautical miles northeast of Key West in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The power poles were received from two sources, including the Florida Keys Electric Co-op’s Sea Oats Beach project in Islamorada. The remainder of the poles will be deployed to two additional distinct patch reefs in the same area when weather permits. More structures will be added to the site in the future to increase habitat complexity and space for marine life. The program is entirely funded through a grant from the State of Florida.

Artificial Reefs Director Dr. Hanna Koch has been working closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to prepare for this much-anticipated first deployment that will provide structural habitat in an area where there otherwise is none to support marine life and provide new fishing opportunities for locals and visitors.

“This deployment is the first in a long line of projects being developed to provide several ecosystem and economic-related services,” said Koch. “This is just the beginning; we plan to create networks of structures from shallow to deep waters on both the Atlantic and Gulf sides that will provide a variety of quality habitat types to various marine species.”

In August 2023, Monroe County was awarded $10 million from the State to start an Artificial Reefs program in the Florida Keys. In June 2024, the State awarded an additional $5 million for the program. Artificial reefs can help take pressure off local natural reefs.

Koch is developing the framework for the future of the Artificial Reefs program in the Florida Keys and is collaborating with FWC and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. She’s also been having extensive discussions with local stakeholders and scientists to guide the development of projects. “Having the community’s input and involvement is crucial to a successful program,” said Koch.

Florida has more than 4,000 artificial reefs, and Monroe County recently joined the 37 coastal counties that already have an artificial reef program. In the Florida Keys, 62 artificial reefs, including wrecks, were placed mainly between 1982 and 1989. The most recent artificial reef placed in Florida Keys waters was the Vandenberg off Key West in 2009. Koch plans to apply a science-based approach to designing, deploying, and evaluating artificial reef materials in the Florida Keys and utilize an adaptive management strategy to improve material design, placement, and configuration.

For more information on the program, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/reefs.

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