Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

This site is currently in beta, and your feedback is helping shape its ongoing development.

Artificial Reefs

Published by Office for Coastal Management | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Metadata Last Checked: December 19, 2025 | Last Modified: 2022-09-13T00:00:00.000+00:00
Artificial reefs provide new or enhanced hard-bottom habitat to areas that may or may not be habitat limited. Artificial habitat provides space that is quickly colonized by sessile organisms and provides new food sources, greater protection of juveniles by providing more space to be used as refuge, and a possible focal point for aggregating adults to spawn. Properly sited, constructed and managed reef sites, particularly multiple-site complexes, can be used to meet a variety of objectives. Traditionally, the majority of artificial reefs in United States coastal marine waters have been sited and built to enhance recreational fishing.

Complete Metadata

data.gov

An official website of the GSA's Technology Transformation Services

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov