Bay County Artificial Reefs

This page is updated regularly to reflect new public deployments in state and federal waters. Please take time to explore and check back often for project announcements! 

Above is our newest artificial reef, deployed on April 15, 2024. The G. D. Blomberg Reef is a retired Swiftships 65-foot patrol boat located in LAARS B:

• Latitude: 29° 40.797’ N
• Longitude: 85° 57.769’ W

Bay County Artificial Reef Goals

We seek to enhance user experiences for our various marine user groups. 

Our Goals

We have a few key goals we're working toward, following the guidelines from national and state artificial reef plans:

• Protecting Marine Life: We build reefs that help fish thrive now and in the future.
  
  
• Eco-Friendly Materials: We use materials that are safe for the environment and long-lasting.
  
  
• Continuous Improvement and Monitoring: We use what we learn from our research and monitoring to enhance our reefs for the future and ensure they are performing as designed.
  
  
• Preserving Balance for Marine Fisheries, Tourism, and Economy: We aim to preserve the balance of marine ecosystems to benefit our marine fisheries, support coastal tourism, and boost our local economy.