Artificial Reefs
Watch videos about Building an Artificial Reef and the expansion of the Smithtown Artificial Reef on DEC's YouTube Channel.
Artificial reefs are manmade structures which are "aquatically recycled" to provide habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms. They are made with a variety of hard, durable materials including rock, concrete, and steel, which are selected based on their function, compatibility, stability, and availability. These characteristics ensure that once deployed the material will provide suitable habitat for marine life that is safe, effective, and will last a long time.
Artificial Reef Guide
Check out DEC's New York State Artificial Reef Guide (PDF) for everything you need to plan your next reef adventure! In the guide you will find reef coordinates, tips for fishing and diving on New York's artificial reefs, and details about materials that have been deployed on the reef sites.
Artificial Reefs Interactive Map
Try our new and easy to use Artificial Reefs Interactive Map to find out more about reef site characteristics, materials used, coordinates of patch reefs, and the history of deployments.
Artificial Reefs in New York
The NYS Artificial Reef Program was officially created in 1962, although documented construction of New York's first artificial reef dates back to 1949 on McAllister Grounds. DEC established a Marine Artificial Reef Development and Management Plan in 1993.
Currently, New York has 16 artificial reef sites, including:
- Five in Long Island Sound
- Two in Great South Bay
- Nine in the Atlantic Ocean on the south shore of Long Island.
New & Expanded Artificial Reef Sites
Through a multi-year process, which included updating the Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) (PDF), DEC has added four new artificial reef sites and the expansion of seven existing sites. Through this process, DEC received comments on site development from the public and each comment was taken into consideration. DEC held two stakeholder meetings with the commercial fishing industry to identify locations of concern relating to expanded and new sites. Feedback received will assist DEC to limit impacts to the commercial fishing industry by selectively deploying future materials.
Creating Artificial Reefs
New York's Artificial Reef Program uses the "patch reef" method of construction. Clean rock, concrete, and steel in various forms are placed in discreet parts of the reef site leaving natural benthic habitat in between. Placing different material in "patches" provides a variety of habitats for marine life to use and helps increase species diversity.
Blackfish (tautog) and black sea bass viewed by scuba
diver at Moriches Reef. Photo by: Rob Schepis
New York has successfully enhanced artificial reef sites through the addition of hundreds of patch reefs, working cooperatively with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, National Marine Fisheries Service, local fishing clubs, and other groups to improve reef sites through material donation and project sponsorship.
Artificial Reefs Create Marine Habitat
Artificial reefs are used to create complex habitat in areas which lack intricate hard bottom structure, which is common off the shores of New York and is primarily a flat sand/silt bottom.
Artificial reefs enhance the environment by creating a biologically diverse area which provides food and shelter to a range of marine organisms. Over time, hard structures on the reefs are covered with algae, mussels, barnacles, sponges, anemones, hydroids, temperate corals, and other types of encrusting organisms.
Many fish and crustacean species including black sea bass, tautog (blackfish), scup (porgy), summer flounder (fluke), and lobsters are attracted to reefs and the surrounding area for food and shelter. Artificial reefs have also been used by fish to spawn. As the reef matures, it resembles a natural reef and provides increased saltwater fishing and scuba diving opportunities to the public.
Reefs are Recycled and Reused Material
Parts of Tappan Zee Bridge become marine habitat on Shinnecock Reef.
All materials placed on reefs are selected and prepared for use on reefs are scrutinized based on national standards, DEC guidelines, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) best management practices. This ensures the materials are cleaned properly, will function as intended, and will not harm the environment.
All materials are inspected by the DEC and vessels are inspected cooperatively with the United States Coast Guard prior to deployment. Materials must be free of substances that pose harm to the marine environment, including but not limited to petroleum products, and PCB's.
DEC must obtain a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, a New York state water quality certification, and a New York state coastal consistency concurrence to construct an artificial reef. The permit process is reviewed by various state and federal agencies including the EPA, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA), and others. This ensures all environmental rules and regulations are followed certifying that nothing harmful will be discharged into our waters.
US Coast Guard and DEC staff inspect vessel for use on reef sites.
Artificial reef construction is intently reviewed and requires a multiple levels of government oversight, and is not considered ocean dumping, which is littering and it is illegal.
Material placed on artificial reefs are primarily secondary use - they have served their usable lives as originally designed and are no longer useful for their original purpose. It can be worthwhile to provide these materials a second life by recycling them into marine habitat, giving them a new purpose, and turning them back into productive materials. This aquatic recycling provides many benefits to the marine ecosystem, the fish and other organisms that rely on complex structures for habitat, the fishing and diving communities in the region, and our local economy.
Help Support Our Mission
Most of our reefs were built through the donation of materials and resources from fishing and diving clubs, government agencies, private businesses and individuals. In the past, private organizations working cooperatively with DEC have adopted sites to build patch reefs on while enjoying the local fishing and diving benefits they provide.
A 115' NYS Canal vessel is lowered to the seafloor.
If you are interested in adopting a site, donating material, or getting involved, please call 631-444-0438 or email artificialreefs@dec.ny.gov.
DEC is the only entity in New York that may obtain permits to build artificial reefs in the marine waters of the state. Any unauthorized placement of materials in the marine environment is a violation and subject to legal action.
Be a Volunteer Artificial Reef Observer
While visiting New York's artificial reefs, you have the opportunity to observe a variety of unique marine habitats, organisms, and environmental conditions. Please consider sharing your observations while fishing or diving with the DEC Artificial Reef Program. The information you provide will help us learn more about the marine life on our artificial reefs and how to improve your experience on our reefs.
Learn more about becoming a Volunteer Reef Angler or Diver!
More Information on Artificial Reefs
Black sea bass swim over a submerged vessel
on Shinnecock Reef just weeks after deployment.
Photo Credit: Elliot Bertoni, Halftime Wreck Diving
DEC has completed the Artificial Reef Program Final Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (FSGEIS) (PDF).
The FSGEIS describes various aspects of New York's Reef Program including how it was and is being developed and managed. The FSGEIS updates the first New York's Artificial Reef Plan (PDF) that was developed in 1993.
The FSGEIS Appendices (PDF) are available for review here. Note: this is a large file. You can download portions of the file individually below:
- Appendices A - B (PDF) 8.1MB - Coastal Zone Management Act Consistency and Site Specific Surveys
- Appendices C - D (PDF) 5.8MB - Artificial Reef Bathymetry and DEC Impaired Water Body/Water Quality Data
- Appendices E - J (PDF) - Water Quality Data, Fish Habitat Assessment, and Aerial Boat Survey
