Inshore Artificial Reefs Species Overview

Inshore rigs are large structures in shallow waters. They create the base of a food chain and give a place to live and hide to a wide variety of inshore fish. Mangrove snapper, tripletail, cobia, redfish, sheepshead and black drum to name a few. Offshore rigs create their own reef-like ecosystem that becomes the base of a new food chain. The steel is encrusted with life on which small fish and crustaceans feed and hide in. These in turn are eaten by bigger and bigger fish, who are chased by the lucky anglers of Louisiana.

Louisiana realizes the importance of these artificial reefs to nature and to the economy and quality of life for residents and visitors alike. They have implemented a program that takes defunct oil rigs that are slated to be destroyed and preserves them for the artificial reefs that they have already become. It is a win-win program because the oil company saves money and the people save their fishing spots, while the fish and related creatures get to keep their home.