Geospatial Resources for the Deployment of New Artificial Reef Materials in North Carolina

Abstract

The North Carolina coast is home to forty-three offshore artificial reefs that have been deployed by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Artificial Reef Program since the 1970s. Primarily utilized by anglers and recreational divers, the purpose of these reefs is to increase the structural complexity of benthic habitat and the abundance of commercially and recreationally valuable fish species. Moving forward, DMF hopes to address data gaps surrounding ecological connectivity and fish use of existing and future artificial reef material placement in order to focus management decisions on maximizing benefits to stakeholders. This project aims to provide DMF with the ecological, biophysical, and regulatory geospatial resources needed to inform decisions surrounding the deployment of new artificial reef materials at existing, permitted reefs in the form of a geodatabase and recommendations for its use.