About the reef
In 1997, the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth developed an artificial reef project using reef balls or prefabricated concrete units. This state funded project received the support of local and state officials. The 3.5-acre site is located in Buzzards Bay, southwest of Salter’s Point in Dartmouth. About 100 reef balls occupy a total permitted footprint of approximately 242 square yards. The units are dispersed along on the bottom within the permitted area at depths between 28 and 32 feet.
Current status of the reef
DMF divers conduct monitoring twice a year at the site to assess species presence, material stability, and recreational use. DMF also maintains a series of continuous bottom temperature monitors at the site. DMF records bottom temperature readings hourly year round. Data is recovered during monitoring visits to the site.
Today, you can find a wide variety of life on the reef including;
- Black sea bass
- Cunner
- Knobbed whelk
- Lobster
- Oyster toadfish
- Tautog