Commercial Fishing Interests & Stakeholders
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has planned the expansions of seven existing artificial reefs and the creation of four new sites and is seeking feedback from commercial fishing interests to gain information that will help guide the future development of these sites and avoid conflicts with the commercial industry.
All commercial fishing interests and stakeholders are invited to attend meetings on changes to artificial reefs in the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound. Stakeholders can provide valuable information by identifying fishing locations on charts provided at the meetings or by providing GPS data collected while fishing. *The original meeting took place on November 22, 2021.
The New York State Artificial Reef Program was officially created in 1962, although the documented construction of New York’s first artificial reef dates back to the 1920s in the Great South Bay. DEC established a Marine Artificial Reef Development and Management Plan in 1993.
Currently, New York has 12 artificial reef sites, including:
- Two in Long Island Sound
- Two in Great South Bay
- Eight in the Atlantic Ocean on the south shore of Long Island
Under the NYSDEC Reef Development and Management Plan, the Reef Program has successfully enhanced New York’s artificial reef sites through the addition of hundreds of patch reefs. Patch reefs have been created using a variety of materials that meet both national standards and New York Reef Program guidelines.
The Reef Program has worked cooperatively with federal agencies (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard and National Marine Fisheries Service), local fishing clubs, and other groups to improve reef sites through reef material donation and project sponsorship.
In 2018, the NYS Artificial Reef Program began the largest expansion in state history. This expansion includes the deployment of cleaned recycled materials from the New York State Canal Corporation (NYSCC), New York State Thruway Authority, New York State Department of Transportation (DOT), the New York Power Authority (NYPA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Artificial Reefs Create Marine Habitat
Artificial reefs are used to create complex habitat in areas which lack intricate natural hard bottom structure. This is common off the shores of New York which primarily have flat sand/silt bottoms. 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. Fish also use artificial reefs for spawning. As an artificial reef matures, it resembles a natural reef and provides increased fishing and diving opportunities for the public.
For the complete reef guide click on the tab below.