Louisiana’s Artificial Reef Program

What do fallen trees, bridge pilings, rock jetties, offshore platforms, and ocean ridges all have in common? These various natural and man-made objects serve as structure, which is like a fish version of the bat-signal for anglers. It is no secret that fish like structure. Underwater structures provide habitat complexity which enhances fish production and serves as guideposts for fisherman to target. These three-dimensional objects alter the flow of water, pushing nutrients higher into the water column and serving as refuge from the swift currents. They create hotspots for filter feeders, hiding spots for young and small fish, substrate for settling species, and a potential buffet for predatory fish. Knowing this, humans have long strived to replicate nature by creating man-made structures to provide similar services of natural features. These structures can either be intentionally constructed as aquatic habitats, or by chance when functional objects provide biological functions. In both cases, these man-made objects offer additional habitat to benefit aquatic animals. Nowhere is this more important than in the offshore marine environment, where hard structures are few and far between. Natural reefs are like an oasis in a desert of open water emptiness. Louisiana’s coastal waters and the Gulf of Mexico are predominantly mud-bottom with hard bottom and vertical relief being relatively rare. Luckily for Louisiana anglers, the offshore oil and gas industry provides a tremendous amount of hard vertical substrate that helps support many marine species.

Louisiana’s offshore oil and gas platforms are essentially a network of thousands of man-made islands rising throughout our coastal waters. While these platforms are operational, they act as de-facto artificial reefs. Once the functional life has ended, the structures can be reborn as artificial reefs through the Louisiana Artificial Reef Program.

The placement of underwater structures does more than just attract fish; it provides hard-substrate in an otherwise empty environment. Whether it is the standing operational structure, or when those materials are incorporated into an artificial reef, the entire three-dimensional surface becomes a catalyst of life. Almost instantly, fish can be seen seeking refuge in the shady nooks and crevices. Over time, the outer surface is colonized by the many larval creatures drifting the currents and looking for a suitable place to land. The settling species like barnacles and mollusks quickly begin to build a living cocoon around all hard surfaces and thus form the base of a food chain. Chunks of these encrusting organisms will naturally fall off creating rubble piles around the base of the structure. These habitats provide a home and place of forage for species like blennies and stone crabs. Meanwhile hard and soft corals, sponges, and sea fans also settle on the structure creating habitats for tropical species like angelfish and spiny lobsters to hide and feed. Currents that supply nutrient rich plankton nourish these filtering animals on the structure, as well as those in the water column like menhaden, which in turn attract predators like jacks and mackerel. Hole and crevice dwellers like triggerfish and eels seek shelter from snapper and grouper waiting to ambush from the shadows. Opportunistic predators like barracuda and amberjack also take a place at the dinner table waiting for their prey. Apex predators like sharks and tunas circle the structures waiting to come across their next meal at these reliable feeding spots. These underwater structures bloom with life, supporting a thriving food chain that is sustained in a place that was relatively barren mud or sand. This creates more known areas for fishermen and divers to fish and explore.

Louisiana’s offshore oil and gas industry began in 1938 with the completion of a successful drilling platform located one mile off the southwest coast near Cameron. Building on previous exploratory work over the waters of Caddo Lake and in the coastal marshes, the infancy of offshore development was met with a number of technical and environmental challenges. The major obstacle was ensuring reliable support services in the turbulent environment. Major changes came with the start of World War II. Production was slowed in no small part due to the threats posed by German U-boat submarines. Oil became a matter of national security, increasing the domestic protection and establishing federal oversight for future development. After the conclusion of WWII, the industry was jump started by an influx of skilled labor and surplus materials from the war effort. The surplus property, including vessels and equipment, was used to expand offshore services and extend operations further out into the Gulf. The race offshore began in the late 1940s and officially moved out of sight of land in 1947 with a platform over 12 miles off the Terrebonne coast. With this move came an evolution of materials that could hold up to the rigors of the waves and weather. Gone were the days of wooden structures, the newest versions of these taller and taller structures consisted of large metal frames anchored to the seafloor with pilings (piled jackets), in which a prefabricated deck was added on top. This design utilizes cutting edge technology to operate in the rough and dynamic open water environment. The results include milestones in 1957 by reaching the 100-ft depth mark, in 1965 with the 225-ft mark, over 300-ft in 1969, and over 1000-ft in 1979. Fueled by demand, the offshore oil and gas industry saw a network of thousands of these artificial islands spring up from the ocean depths. As soon as they are in place, the underwater portions of production platforms serve as de-facto artificial reefs that bloom with life. It quickly became clear to anglers, divers, and biologists that the structures that literally support the offshore platforms also provide a home for a myriad of marine species. However, once production is finished the entire structure must be completely removed according to federal law. The result is that the entire living habitat is eliminated at the end of the platform’s operational life. The significance of this was not lost on lawmakers, and by the mid-1980s federal legislation was enacted to provide a framework for creating artificial reef projects using approved materials through a mechanism commonly nicknamed Rigs-to-Reefs. The Rigs-to-Reefs process is managed by state and federal agencies, and rather than scrapping, it gives oil and gas companies the option to have their decommissioned structures reborn as dedicated artificial reefs.

Louisiana was quick to adopt the artificial reef concept, and the Louisiana Artificial Reef Program was established in 1986. The first state endorsed artificial reef project occurred the following year in 1987. The Louisiana Artificial Reef Program allows for the creation of new artificial reefs through cooperative agreements with oil and gas companies. Using multiple methods, LDWF is able to transform decommissioned oil platform materials into artificial reefs to create vital offshore habitat for marine life across the food chain. In addition to the material donation, companies donate half of the savings realized by reefing, rather than a traditional removal, to the Artificial Reef Trust Fund. A win-win for everyone, the Louisiana Artificial Reef Program has constructed a total of 109 artificial reef projects comprised of hundreds of individual structures. The funds generated through the Louisiana Artificial Reef Program go towards the management and enhancement of the artificial reef potential of Louisiana. Management activities include an integrated monitoring plan that incorporates underwater video and diver surveys, along with angler surveys and outreach materials. Activities also include the development and implementation of new artificial reef projects in areas of interest. This growth has allowed LDWF to redefine the types of artificial reef projects into four specific manageable zones to support all of our coastal species: Inshore, Nearshore, Offshore, and Deepwater. The Louisiana Artificial Reef Program preserves existing habitat, like oil and gas platform structures, and constructs new reefs with various materials. Regardless of the construction method, artificial reefs generally provide great habitats to benefit a wide range of marine species. Artificial reefs give anglers areas that are accessible, easy to find, and where they are likely to catch fish. The importance of building artificial reefs, both offshore and inshore, is easily recognized from both a biological and economic standpoint. All of these characteristics make artificial reefs very popular with recreational anglers and help enhance the world class fishery for which Louisiana is known.

Statistics will be added soon!