The NC Artificial Reef Program has completed the construction of an artificial oyster reef, according to a social media post from the NC Division of Marine Fisheries.
The 5-acre reef’s completion now adds 2,100 tons of recycled crushed concrete.
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Builders constructed the artificial oyster reef near the Carolina Beach State Park to help grow oyster numbers and benefit the entire ecosystem.
The oyster population in North Carolina has decreased by about 90% since the 1900s, according to the Coastal Federation.
This is a problem that the Division of Marine Fisheries, the North Carolina Coastal Federation, and the Carolina Beach State Park are working on to boost the numbers in our waterways.
Workers took cement rocks from Carolina Beach State Park and dumped the rocks onto the barge.
Next, workers transported the rocks to the artificial reef, where they were hosed down and dumped into the Cape Fear River.
Oysters act as engineers for water filtration and attracting other fish to the area.
“Oysters will settle on the concrete that we’re putting out and will begin to grow and then all the little nooks and crannies in between the oysters provide habitat for shrimp, crabs and small fish species that in turn bring in larger fish species that is there to eat those,” said North Carolina Marine Fisheries enhancement project manager Jordan Byrum.
This reef is unique in its proximity to the shore. It is accessible by kayak, small boats, or shore-based anglers.
The creation of this reef has also created small revenue for North Carolina due to the sourcing of materials for this project has been entirely based within the state.