News About Reef Balls From New Jersey
In 1998, 16 fiberglass molds were purchased to fabricate concrete Reef Ball habitats. In 1999, construction of habitats began at Southern State Correctional Facility using inmate laborers. The program is designed to produce 700 habitats each year. Transportation of the habitats to ocean reef sites was provided by the Ocean County Bridge Department and now, by a contractor. In 2002, 650 habitats were placed on 5 reef sites. As of 2002, a total of 2,556 Reef Ball habitats have been placed on 6 reef sites. Some of the larger reefs include Axel Carlson with 169 Reef Balls.Barnegat Light with 490 Reef Balls. Garden State N with 326 Reef Balls and Garden State S with 167 Reef Balls.
NJ Reef News, 1999 Annual Editiion REEF BALLS A New Direction for the Reef Program "Reef Balls" are concrete fish habitats designed by a firm in Sarasota, Florida and are used worldwide to build ocean artificial reefs. They are igloo-shaped and hollow and have over a dozen access holes for fish. Measuring 4 feet in diameter and 3 feet high, they weigh 1,400 pounds each. Through a cooperative project between Southern State Correctional Facility, located in Delmont (Cape May County), and the Division's Reef Program, inmate laborers use fiberglass molds to fabricate Reef Ball habitats. The structures will be stockpiled until early summer, when over 600 of them will be barged offshore for placement on New Jersey reef sites. These designed habitats are expected to maximize use by fish, especially those species, like tautog and sea bass, that hide under ledges or in caverns. The internal cavity will also provide juvenile fish with refuge from larger, ocean predators. To further enhance their value as sanctuary habitat, the Reef Balls will be widely dispersed on the sea floor.
OBJECTIVES OF THE REEF PROGRAM New Jersey's Reef Program is administered by the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife. The objectives of the program are to construct hard-substrate "reef" habitat in the ocean for certain species of fish and shellfish, new fishing grounds for anglers and underwater structures for scuba divers. REEF BALLS A New Direction for the Reef Program "Reef Balls" are concrete fish habitats designed by a firm in Sarasota, Florida and are used worldwide to build ocean artificial reefs. They are igloo-shaped and hollow and have over a dozen access holes for fish. Measuring 4 feet in diameter and 3 feet high, they weigh 1,400 pounds each. Through a cooperative project between Southern State Correctional Facility, located in Delmont, and the Division's Reef Program, inmate laborers use fiberglass molds to fabricate Reef Ball habitats. The structures will be stockpiled until early summer, when over 600 of them will be barged offshore for placement on New Jersey reef sites. These designed habitats are expected to maximize use by fish, especially those species, like tautog and sea bass, that hide under ledges or in caverns. The internal cavity will also provide juvenile fish refuge from larger, ocean predators. To further enhance their value as sanctuary habitat, the Reef Balls will be widely dispersed on the sea floor.....
DIVISION DEPLOYS 700 REEF BALLS January 11, 2000 For more information contact: Bill Figley at According to the Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife, a total of 700 commercially designed marine habitats were placed on ocean reef sites along the Jersey coast last year. Known as Reef Balls, the structures resemble small igloos made of concrete and have been used worldwide to create ocean reef habitat. The fabrication and deployment of these habitats is a cooperative effort between federal, state and county government. Funding is provided through the Federal-Aid-to-Sportfish Restoration Fund, which is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The habitats are fabricated by inmate laborers at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Delmont (Cape May County), which is administered by the New Jersey Department of Corrections. Once constructed, the habitats are trucked to Ocean County where they are barged offshore by the Ocean County Bridge Department. The 4-foot by 3-foot reef habitats weigh about 1,600 pounds each and have numerous access holes for fish and other marine life. When deployed at sea, the Reef Balls are placed in groups of 10-20 structures to create one good fishing spot or individually dispersed over the sea floor to provide isolated refuges for fish and lobsters. The 700 habitats were divided equally among two reef sites, Barnegat Light, located four miles east of Barnegat Inlet and Garden State North, located eight miles south of Barnegat Inlet. Companies, clubs and individuals have helped enlarge the state's Artificial Reef Program by sponsoring the deployment of one or more Reef Balls. Sponsors who've helped cover the costs of building large Reef Ball reefs in 1999 include: ? Penn Reels ? Forked River Tuna Club ? LBI Scuba ? Village Harbor Fishing Club ? The Family of Michael Deitzler The production of Reef Ball habitats is an ongoing project, with 700 more scheduled for deployment in the summer of 2000. For details on sponsoring a reef contact Bill Figley, reef coordinator at......
Designed Habitats on the Reefs During the summer of 1999, 700 Reef Ball habitats were deployed on the Barnegat Light and Garden State North Reefs. The concrete habitats, resembling small igloos, were fabricated by inmate laborers at Southern State Correctional Facility, located in Cumberland County. Transportation from the prison to the ocean reef sites was provided by the Ocean County Bridge Department. The Reef Ball Program is ongoing, with 700 more habitats scheduled for deployment in 2000. In most cases, the strategy for deployment is to disperse the Reef Balls far apart on the reef site. The distance between habitats makes them harder to fish and thus, provides a refuge for fish and shellfish. These small sanctuaries will then provide additional fish to help replenish larger reef structures that are subject to greater fishing effort.....
February 6, 2006 The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced it would build a new reef site off the coast of Cape May County to enhance its nationally recognized network of 15 artificial reefs while strengthening marine resources, improving recreational opportunities and boosting the state's economy. Recently approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, construction of the reef, to be situated approximately 3.8 nautical miles southeast of Townsends Inlet in Cape May County, will be funded almost entirely through private donations. Some 800 reef-ball habitats are scheduled for deployment this summer on the Townsends Inlet reef site. The reef site measures slightly more than one-half square mile with a depth between 49 feet and 66 feet. Its inshore portion will be used as a drift fishing area; the offshore portion will be reserved for vessels to accommodate diving. The new reef will become part of the state's Artificial Reef Program, administered by the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife. Artificial reefs play a key role in supporting New Jersey's marine fishing and diving industries, and contribute more than $50 million to the state's economy every year. These reefs also benefit the environment by providing new habitat for marine life. In fact, one out of every five fish reeled in by recreational anglers in New Jersey's salt waters during 2000 was caught on a reef site......
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