The Return of Maryland's Reefs

Any Maryland angler worth his or her salt knows that fishing over quality habitat - often called "live bottom" - can mean the difference between a good day catching fish and simply casting a line. These vibrant marine communities, such as oyster reefs and underwater grass beds, critical to supporting diverse species of game fish were once prolific in the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland's Atlantic coast. Today, however, these fish magnets are sadly a mere shadow of their historically robust selves.

Gamefish such as rockfish (pictured), bluefish and croakers roam artificial reefs to feed on the prey attracted by the reefs.

Although decades-long efforts to restore Maryland's natural habitats are ongoing, charter captains and recreational anglers agree that additional artificial reef development to enhance Maryland's marine habitat would help to improve Maryland's sportfishing industry. As a result of budget cuts, the opportunity to create these important habitats has been curtailed over the last several years.

In the fall of 2006, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity arose when tons of concrete material from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge renovation project became available. Maryland's Department of Natural Resources (DNR), working in concert with the Coastal Conservation Association Maryland (CCA MD), charter boat captains and other partners, seized this chance and quickly mobilized to acquire more than 3,900 tons of the material, which was used to bolster an existing reef off Point No Point in St. Mary's County.

The DNR used $38,000 in monies generated from fishing license sales to help pay for the cost of transporting the first barge load of bridge chunks to Point No Point in the early summer of 2006. It was money well spent as benthic communities consisting of mussels, algae, barnacles and oysters have already begun to grow on the slabs. Local charter captains and sportfishermen started reporting catches of stripers and blue fish just weeks after the placement.

While everyone is excited with the early success of material placement, the opportunity remains to create even more sites scattered throughout the bay. The remainder of the center span of the bridge, and the nearly ¾-mile of the Maryland approach of the bridge are up for grabs. Contractors from the Wilson Bridge are willing to share costs with Maryland to transport and deploy suitable materials to the state’s Chesapeake reef sites, but funding remains an issue. Six barge loads of material are available to transport this winter, and several dozen more beginning in July of this year.

While the state's new artificial reef plan focuses on enhancing the benthic ecology of Maryland's waters and improving the sport fishing industry by creating more reefs, funding remains a challenge. To maintain momentum, CCA MD, in conjunction with the DNR, has rallied donors and other partners to establish the Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative (MARI). This program brings together a coalition of diverse stakeholders to accomplish meaningful and measurable goals that not only benefit the sport fishing industry but also provide priceless marine habitat.

Yet, MARI goes well beyond creating marine habitats and improving the sport fishing industry in Maryland. The initiative offers a unique opportunity to bring progress to how Maryland’s marine resources are managed.

You too can become part of this historic partnership to create reefs in Maryland by signing up to "buy a ton". Never before have the citizens of Maryland been able to help effect change than with this hands-on program. With your tax-deductible contribution, you can make a difference.