Why Build Artificial Reefs To Enhance Fishery Habitat To Benefit the Fishery Resource To Promote “Sport-fishing” & “Recreational” opportunities Diversify local angling opportunities Distribute fishing pressure due to increasing populations Increase economic benefit (tourism revenue) “Economic Benefit” Artificial Reefs Reel in Big Bucks…. “Artificial reefs represent a $415 million annual economic impact in the Florida Panhandle”. This sum generated nearly $84 million in annual wages, which supported more than 8,100 jobs. Construct Artificial Reefs Fish Attractor Project • Build Fish Attractors within the Hernando, Inverness, and Floral City Pools – Constructed by using suitable brush (citrus, oak, Christmas trees, etc.) and anchoring them to the lake bottom with floats attached to the upper part. – Monies derived from the additional one dollar received from fishing licenses, no ad-valorem taxes are used – FWC will be conducting a creel study at the end of the project Fish Attractor Project • Landfill accepted Christmas Trees for the project (free) • 3-year contract with Perry Construction • Project started 2/1/2010 In the Inverness Pool Artificial Reef History FY 85/86 250 Cubic Yards of Concrete Rubble Project Cost: $10,000 Grant received: $10,000 Artificial Reef History FY 86/87 No Activity Artificial Reef History FY 87/88 2,000 Cubic Yards of Bridge Rubble (Hwy 41) Project Cost: $58,500 Grant: $20,000 Artificial Reef History FY 88/89 166 Concrete Culvert Pipe 36 Pro-Line Boat Molds Project Cost: $42,595 Grant: $20,000 Artificial Reef History FY 89/90 3,000 Tons of Bridge Rubble (Hwy 44) Project Cost: $79,000 Grant: $40,000 Artificial Reef History FY 91/92 1,200 Cubic Yards of Concrete Rubble 16 (80 tons each) of Culvert Boxes Project Cost: $175,600 Grant: $100,000 Artificial Reef History FY 92/93 1,000 Cubic Yards of Concrete Rubble Project Cost: $80,500 Grant: $40,000 Artificial Reef History FY 93/94 1,000 Cubic Yards of Concrete Rubble Project Cost: $60,400 Grant: $50,000 ARTIFICIAL REEF HISTORY FY 99/00 618 Tons of Concrete Culvert Pipe Project Cost: $48,000 Grant: $20,000 Artificial Reef History FY 01/02 10 – 10X10 Lincoln Log Structures 45 Pieces of Concrete Rubble 81 total tons of material deployed Project Cost - $31,000.00 Grant - $30,000.00 Artificial Reef History FY 02/03 300 Concrete Poles Deployed 62.63 Tons of Material Project Cost - $9,000 Artificial Reef History FY 04/05 10 – 12X12 Lincoln Log structures deployed 130.33 Tons of material Project Cost - $60,000 Grant Funds - $55,000 Artificial Reef History December 2007 Material from Cedar Key, FL, no cost to the County 213 Tons of material deployed Lucas Marine Construction was the Contractor utilized Artificial Reef History • FY 07/08 – – – – Concrete Rubble 271.17 Tons of material Project Cost - $72,800 Grant Funds - $27,117 Other Material Types Pre-Fabricated Multiple Designs Easy Deployment Other Material Types Military Surplus M-60 Tank Hernando County Other Material Types Derelict Vessels Large Profile Requires greater water depth Other Material Types No longer permitted materials: Automobiles White Goods Tires Lincoln-Log 2nd County in Florida to erect these types of structures Deployment Summer of 2001 Lincoln - Logs Culverts Artificial Reef Locations Reef Latitude Longitude Loran C Fish Haven #1 28 47.4 N 83 03.5 W 14356.2 45305.5 Fish Haven #2 28 54.9 N 82 52.3 W 14396.2 45278.1 Fish Haven #3 28 55.3 N 82 52.5 W 14396.7 45282.3 Artificial Reef Location (Fish Haven #1) Key “Players” Artificial Reef FL Greenways & Trails Association leases the staging area to the County Citrus Mining & Timber provides access to the staging area FL Power Corp. donates the materials used