Okaloosa County Commission announces hundreds of artificial reefs deployed into gulf

OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. ( WKRG ) — A $1.26 million artificial reef project funded by the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund has added hundreds of underwater habitats to the Gulf of Mexico, according to a release from the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners.

There were 133 different reef sites and 279 reef structures ranging from 6 to 25 feet were deployed, the release said.

“The reefs include some of the deepest modules ever deployed by Destin-Fort Walton Beach with depths ranging from 65-292 feet,” the release said.

The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Coastal Resources team in Okaloosa County’s Tourism Development Department managed the project.

“This is an impressive effort to enhance the habitats for marine life in the Gulf of Mexico waters,” Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon said. “This is a great example of how we continue to work to be good stewards of the environment that we depend on for our fishing and tourism industries.”

3D-printed modules were deployed in late February in this project. They are the first of its kind in the Gulf of Mexico.

Contractors Walter Marine and 1Print performed construction and deployment work across six total deployment days spanning from February to early May.

The Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund, which is administered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, provided 100% of the funding for the project.

“I am extremely proud of the work that was done to complete this extensive project,” Destin-Fort
Walton Beach Coastal Resources Manager Alex Fogg said. “Our area of the Gulf of Mexico is lacking in natural reef structures for marine life to thrive which is something we are working to change. Not only do artificial reefs create essential habitat for native species here in the Gulf, but they also provide ideal locations for fishermen and divers to visit.”

Click here for the coordinates of these reefs and other reefs off Destin-Fort Walton Beach.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.