A 130’ retired steel barge has found a new home on the seafloor off Georgia’s coast, where it will serve as an artificial reef supporting marine life and recreational fishing.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Coastal Resources Division (CRD) deployed the vessel on Oct. 21 to Artificial Reef A, located about seven nautical miles east of Little Cumberland Island in roughly 40’ of water.
Before deployment, CRD said the barge was thoroughly cleaned and inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure that all pollutants and hazardous materials were removed. The structure now rests on the ocean floor, where it will provide habitat for snapper, grouper, sea bass, and other reef-associated species, CRD said.
“Artificial reefs like this one play a critical role in supporting Georgia’s coastal fisheries,” said Paul Medders, lead for CRD’s Habitat Enhancement and Restoration Unit. “They not only improve fish habitat but also create exciting new opportunities for anglers and divers.”
CRD said the project was funded through the sale of Georgia recreational fishing licenses and the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act, a national program that channels excise taxes from fishing equipment and motorboat fuel into conservation and public access initiatives.
Artificial Reef A is one of more than 30 permitted reef sites managed by CRD along Georgia’s coast. CRD said each site is planned and monitored to promote marine biodiversity while enhancing fishing and diving opportunities for the public.
The coordinates for the new reef site are 30.94898°N, 81.24750°W (30° 56.939’N, 81° 14.850’W).
