National Artificial Reef Plan

Artificial reefs provide or improve rough bottom habitat and offer fishery scientists and administrators an effective technique to conserve and develop coastal fishery resources. With careful planning and organized efforts, local reef committees can build reefs to improve fishing and contribute to the recreational and financial growth of coastal communities. Advice and procedures are presented for: 1) selecting construction materials, 2) determining a suitable reef site, 3) obtaining permits, 4) buoying the reef, and 5) preparing, transporting, and placing reef-building materials. Included in appendixes are instructions for preparing permits, addresses of Federal and State agencies involved in approving or funding reef construction, and addresses of manufacturers of materials and equipment.

By 2005, the U.S. Navy and the Maritime Administration will have accumulated some 360 retired ships in need of disposal. A previous RAND study reviewed disposal options such as recycling (either domestically or overseas) and long-term storage. However, preparation and use of the ships for construction of artificial reefs was identified as the lowest-cost option. With the demonstrated potential attractiveness of reefing as a disposal option, in this study the authors examine the economic, legal, environmental, and programmatic issues that might bear on the Navy's decision to pursue the reefing option more seriously. They examine the demand for ships to be used as reefs and the impediments to such use, suggest program goals, and review possible business models for their potential to minimize risks and costs to the Navy.