On May 26, a 3-D printed artificial reef, designed to provide a thriving habitat for fish…
On May 26, a 3-D printed artificial reef, designed to provide a thriving habitat for fish and other marine life, went into the brackish water of the Pamlico River near Bayview, NC.
One hundred reef cubes, each measuring 3′ by 3′ and weighing roughly 1,850 pounds, were transported by barge and deployed at the Bayview Artificial Reef site (AR-291), located approximately 100 yards off the shoreline near the mouth of Bath Creek. Eight years in the making, the joint effort, led by the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina (CCA NC) together with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), represents a milestone in the use of adaptive infrastructure technology and promises an economic boost for the Beaufort County community.
The Bayview reef site encompasses 1.8 underwater acres. The reef modules are spaced 10 feet apart in rows, with 40 feet between each row. The spacing allows for multiple boats to fish the area without crowding. The reef is a popular spot for local anglers and these improvements will help ensure the site endures for generations to come.
Financial contributors and supporters of the Bayview Reef initiative include individual donors and corporate partners Grady-White Boats, Nutrien, Toadfish Outfitters, and the Building Conservation Trust. Deployment of the Natrx modules is funded by a USFWS Sportfish Restoration grant awarded to the Division of Marine Fisheries Artificial Reef Program.
