Over the next three
years, the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife will
add Reef Ball habitats to artificial reef sites
from Little Egg to Cape May inlets. Made of
concrete, Reef Balls look like 3-foot-high igloos
full of holes, weigh 1,600 pounds and provide
hard-structure habitat for marine life ranging
from barnacles to sea bass.
The state placed 1,900
Reef Balls off the coast of Ocean County over the
past three years and reports improved fishing at
these sites. Encouraged by such success, the
Division of Fish and Wildlife plans to deploy 700
Reef Balls at each of these reef sites: Wildwood,
Cape May (in 2002), Little Egg, Atlantic City
(2003), Ocean City, Great Egg (2004).
Anglers, divers and
sportsmen’s clubs are encouraged to sponsor the
construction of Reef Balls with tax-deductible
donations. Sponsors can name their own reef and
receive a laminated plaque. For more information,
call 609-748-2020 or write the Division of Fish
and Wildlife’s Reef Program, P.O. Box 418, Port
Republic, NJ
08241.