US States Repurpose Debris Into Offshore Reefs

Across several U.S. coastal projects, agencies and conservation groups have reused concrete debris, railroad ties and retired boats to create artificial reefs on otherwise relatively bare seafloors. Maryland placed concrete rubble around a sunken barge to add height, surface area and shelter, while Florida’s Railroad Tie Reef used about 500 tons of concrete ties; divers reported heavy marine growth and 17 fish species there a year later. North Carolina built a reef with 7,200 tons of concrete pipe and three retired tugboats, and a project off Jacksonville placed nearly 200 surplus concrete pipes and culverts on the seabed. These structures provide hard surfaces for marine organisms to grow and openings or shelter for fish, turning discarded materials into developing underwater habitat.