Quick facts
ILF Funding: $275,097
ILF Service Area: Coastal (Coastal-South Subarea)
Project Location: Corner coordinates of 0.93-acre box within permitted reef site
NW corner latitude: 41.608116, longitude -70.194737
NE corner latitude: 41.608116, longitude -70.194199
SW corner latitude: 41.607560, longitude -70.194737
SE corner latitude: 41.607560, longitude -70.194199
Property size: 2.1 acres
Project summary
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries deployed 2,210 cubic yards of material to the marine subtidal artificial reef habitat off the coast of Yarmouth. This structured habitat enhancement generated 0.7 acres of habitat at the artificial reef. The selected site for this project is within an undeveloped portion of a 125-acre permitted artificial reef site. Structures were distributed in patches on the bottom, utilizing a 1:2 ratio of new structures to undisturbed natural bottom—33% material coverage to 67% undisturbed area. The project location is Essential Fish Habitat for one or more life history stages of fifteen managed marine species including Atlantic cod, winter flounder, long-fin squid, scup, black sea bass, and surf clam. DMF will conduct a rigorous, multifaceted monitoring program utilizing divers and remote sensing equipment to observe and measure species composition and successional colonization.
