Monroe County’s Artificial Reefs Program is making significant progress as new reef projects move forward, permits are secured, and recently deployed sites flourish with marine life. The county’s coordinated effort aims to enhance marine habitat, expand fishing and diving opportunities, and reduce pressure on natural coral reefs while supporting the Florida Keys’ marine economy.

The county laid the groundwork for a series of artificial reef projects spanning the Upper, Middle, and Lower Keys, with 21 permit applications covering 15 sites on both the Gulf and Atlantic sides. These projects require coordination across multiple regulatory agencies, including federal, state, and Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary permitting authorities. Processing timelines can range from 12 to 18 months, depending on location and complexity, with some agencies reviewing only one application at a time.

Monroe County is preparing for its next phase of reef deployments this summer. Plans include placing 156 concrete modules across three Gulfside sites, Gulfside 5 Mile, Gulfside 8 Mile, and Gulfside 9 Mile, to form a network of 12 patch reefs. These specially designed structures will incorporate features such as embedded limestone and varied shapes to promote the settlement of marine life and increase habitat complexity. The expanding Gulfside Network is intended to provide new recreational opportunities, serve as migration pathways for marine species, and distribute fishing activity to reduce pressure on existing reefs.

The county also recently received approval from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for a pilot project in shallow nearshore hardbottom habitats within Florida Bay. This project will test low-relief structures designed to restore habitat complexity in areas that have experienced decades of ecological decline. Nearshore hardbottom communities are critical nursery and foraging grounds for many species, yet current fish populations in these areas are estimated to be only 30 to 40 percent of their 1990s levels.

“People are very concerned about the state of our coral reefs, as they should be, but there should be equal concern for these nearshore hardbottom communities,” said Artificial Reefs Director Dr. Hanna Koch. “Many species depend on these habitats early in life before moving to reefs or other ecosystems.”

Monroe County will continue to provide updates as additional permits are secured and deployment dates are finalized. Future announcements will include opportunities for the public to safely observe reef deployments from their own vessels.

GULFSIDE 10 MILE UPDATE: A major milestone for the program was the successful deployment of the Gulfside 10 Mile Artificial Reef, located approximately 16 nautical miles northeast of Key West. Initially a flat, sandy area with minimal marine activity, the site now supports more than 90 marine species, including cobia, permit, grouper, snapper, sharks, sea turtles, and a variety of corals and sponges. The reef structures, made from stacked concrete power poles, have created diverse habitat spaces that are already being actively used by marine life. Additional structures are planned to further enhance habitat diversity at the site.

The Artificial Reefs Program is grant-funded through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.