NC recently saw the deployment of almost 300 reef structures onto a 15-acre site in the Pamlico…
NC recently saw the deployment of almost 300 reef structures onto a 15-acre site in the Pamlico Sound to create North Carolina’s newest artificial fishing reef, AR-293. The new reef will boost the Pamlico River ecosystem and help the local economy in a remote part of Eastern North Carolina. CCA NC, with financial support from Starborough Wine, purchased 82 3-D printed artificial reef structures that were submerged, along with 200 reef balls provided by the NC Division of Marine Fisheries, near the mouth of the Pamlico River off Mouse Harbor.
The concrete ExoFormsTM, designed and produced by Natrx in Raleigh, provide refuge for important fish species such as red drum, sheepshead, black drum, striped bass, and speckled trout, as well as oysters, mussels, crustaceans, invertebrates, and other organisms, promoting biodiversity and vibrancy within the river ecosystem.
The reef deployment just south of Pamlico Point near Hobucken, NC, is the second Pamlico River reef project for Natrx, CCA NC, and the DMF in the last 16 months. In May of 2022, a similar artificial reef was deployed on the Bayview Reef site upstream near the mouth of Bath Creek. Improving fish stocks provides an economic boost to the local community through increased recreational fishing activity, while also relieving the pressure on popular fishing grounds by creating new destinations for anglers.
“These reef projects have been supported by popular demand from the local community as well as among sportsmen traveling here,” said Rocky Carter, chairman of CCA NC board of directors. “This project dovetails with local efforts by the state Wildlife Resource Commission to improve access for recreational anglers to this part of the Pamlico which is more remote than other areas of the state with more development.”
Earlier this year, Starborough Wine, one of 130 brands owned by E. & J. Gallo Winery, approached CCA NC about partnering on a reef project. This follows successful projects where Starborough partnered with Reefmaker to deploy three concrete limestone “super reef” structures in two locations off the Gulf coast near Destin, FL, in the last two years.
Adrienne Daniels, Senior Director of Marketing at E. & J. Gallo Winery, explained why a winery half a world away would help fund an artificial reef in North Carolina. “We know our planet’s reef structures are an invaluable part of our ecosystems. In year two of these reef projects, Starborough Wine wanted to expand beyond Florida into other critical habitats. The Pamlico Sound was chosen because it’s the largest estuarine lagoon in the state and one of the largest in the United States.”
“The Pamlico Point reef project is a terrific example of collaboration between a conversation-minded non-profit, public resource agencies, and an innovative climate tech company providing advanced coastal resilience solutions,” said Leonard Nelson, CEO of Natrx. “These estuarine reef installations represent significant milestones in the use of adaptive infrastructure technology in North Carolina.”
This new Pamlico Point Reef will be one of 25 estuarine artificial reefs maintained by the DMF. The department’s reef programs receive funding from the North Carolina General Assembly, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sport Fish Restoration Program, the North Carolina Coastal Recreational Fishing License Grant Program, and from private donations.
