Beauracracies Behind Artificial Reefs

Without a nation-wide procedure for the deployment and utilization of artificial reefs, the process varies on a state-to-state basis. The initial stages can begin from individuals, local governments and state governments. In Alabama, the practice was first picked up by individuals, until the state came in to regulate the deployment of reefs. For Mississippi, the MGFB (Mississippi Gulf Fishing Banks), a private non-profit corporation, began the initiative for building artificial reefs.

In Florida, the initiative lies in counties and municipalities, who are given grants in aid by the Artificial Reef Program Section within the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Florida by far leads all states in number of artificial reefs - about half of all artificial reefs in the U.S. are located in Florida. In 1994 about 350 small reefs were employed in Florida in permitted areas; the state averages about 16-25 new projects every year.

Alabama has one of the easiest processes to deploy individual artificial reefs. Individuals must check off on map where their reef will be placed to make sure the location is adequate. Then their reef material is checked to make sure it's environmentally sound (usually material can be checked same day of deployment). After it's sunk, individuals have 3 days to turn in paperwork to state, which then follows through and checks to make sure it sank where it was supposed to. If so, state of Alabama assumes responsibility for it.

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