Dauphin Island COC

Main Menu

  • Dauphin Island
  • Mobile Alabama
  • Spanish Fort Alabama
  • Orange Beach Alabama
  • Finance Debt

Dauphin Island COC

Header Banner

Dauphin Island COC

  • Dauphin Island
  • Mobile Alabama
  • Spanish Fort Alabama
  • Orange Beach Alabama
  • Finance Debt
Orange Beach Alabama
Home›Orange Beach Alabama›Okaloosa County’s newest artificial reef

Okaloosa County’s newest artificial reef

By Theresa M. Bates
June 28, 2022
0
0

FORT WALTON BEACH – Okaloosa County man-made reef system got a little bigger recently with the addition of 26 concrete and limestone structures in one of the county’s first man-made public-private buildings reef projects.

A diver inspects a newly deployed artificial reef module that is part of the Starborough Winery Reef, Okaloosa County's newest addition to its artificial reef system.

The final reef site will be known as Starborough Winery Reef, named after the New Zealand-based wine company that donated a 16-tonne, 15-foot-tall “super reef”. The three-sided structure was built by Orange Beach, Alabama-based company Reefmaker and is the largest artificial reef made in the United States.

More in Okaloosa:Liza Jackson Park gets innovative ‘reef prisms’ to reduce erosion and attract sea creatures

Snorkeling Reefs:Easy Access to Turtles, Stingrays & More: 8 Snorkeling Reefs near Okaloosa Beach

To accompany the donated “super reef”, 25 additional 8-foot-tall reef structures, similar in shape and style, were purchased by Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County’s Tourism Development Department.

A crane lifts one of several artificial reef structures recently deployed in the Gulf of Mexico about 5.75 nautical miles southwest of Destin.

Using a ship-mounted crane, a Reefmaker crew took about two hours Tuesday morning to lower the 26 structures to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. The total reef field is approximately 200 feet by 100 feet. It is located approximately 5.75 nautical miles southwest of Destin at a depth of 68 feet.

Another “Super Reef” donated by Starborough Winery was also deployed the same day off the coast of Walton County.

Alex Fogg, coastal resources manager at Destin-Fort Walton Beach, was among a group of divers who descended on the reef to remove ropes and inspect the location of structures.

“We had passing fish that appeared,” Fogg said. “I would say in about six months we’ll start to see some growth.”

Related:Fishing days without a license: FWC invites local residents and visitors to go fishing this weekend and next

Fogg said the use of limestone in the reef encourages the growth of small marine life, such as soft coral and sponges. This development will first attract smaller fish like blennies, then larger fish like amberjack and mackerel, and eventually more prized species like grouper and snapper.

An artificial reef structure rests on a barge waiting to be deployed in the Gulf of Mexico about 5.75 nautical miles southwest of Destin.

The Starborough Winery Reef was Okaloosa County‘s 400th artificial reef.

“It’s a great site,” Fogg said. “It has a lot of complexity and there will be a lot to see once it matures. It’s a great example of how great things can come from working together.”

“This is just the latest partnership in our ongoing commitment to protect and restore our oceans,” said Courtney O’Brien, senior director of marketing at E.&. J. Gallo Winery, the parent company of Starborough. “Coral reefs are an extremely important part of our ecosystem and we are honored to partner with Reefmaker to make a real impact.”

Divers inspect newly deployed artificial reef structures in the Gulf of Mexico.

As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting ocean conservation, Starborough will dedicate its social media feed to educating and engaging consumers to participate in ocean conservation efforts throughout June, in honor of National Month. of the ocean.

Starborough has pledged to donate and roll out another reef if the brand’s Instagram channel reaches 100,000 engagements (likes, comments, shares and new followers),

Since 2020, Starborough has partnered with Oceana, the world’s largest international ocean conservation organization. In August, Starborough will donate $1 from every bottle of wine sold, up to $50,000, to Oceana to continue supporting their efforts to protect ocean habitats.

The Starborough Winery Reef is located at 30° 21.048 degrees North and 86° 36.874 degrees West.

For more information on the Okaloosa County Reef System, visit Artificial reefs Destin-Fort Walton Beach.

Related posts:

  1. Rewinding Wednesday AHSAA softball state championship tournament
  2. ADEM gives the green light to the resumption of recreational activities in Perdido Bay areas
  3. Leah Angela Hollis Croft | GulfCoastNewsToday.com
  4. 31 kilos of cocaine wash up on Alabama beach

Recent Posts

  • Northwest Florida commissioners speak out against Mobile Bay I-10 toll bridge
  • Bronze service seals stolen, Veterans Memorial Cemetery vandalized over weekend
  • Alabama Sports Writers Association releases preseason football rankings – Reuters Sports News
  • NJ Democrats fail to deliver promised tax relief
  • VIDEO: A couple from Navarre revealed the sex of their baby by Keith Urban

Archives

  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021

Categories

  • Dauphin Island
  • Finance Debt
  • Mobile Alabama
  • Orange Beach Alabama
  • Spanish Fort Alabama
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy