July 11, 2005 - St. Lucie County's Artificial Reef Program About To Make A Big Splash
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEST. LUCIE COUNTY'S ARTIFICIAL REEF PROGRAM ABOUT TO MAKE A BIG SPLASH
Fort Pierce - July 7, 2005 - The St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program is about to make a big splash. The once active County artificial program had made fairly frequent deployments of new reefs, however, over time interest in the program dwindled to the point where there was almost no program at all. In August 2004, members of the Port St. Lucie Anglers Club, the Fort Pierce Sportfishing Club, the Indian Riverkeeper Organization and others approached the County Commissioners to ask for the resumption of the artificial reef program. The St. Lucie County Commissioners welcomed the request and responded by creating and filling the Marine Resource Coordinator position specifically to implement such programs that will improve marine resources and environment. The St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program's mission is to promote the well-being of the marine environment and support the ecosystem-based fishery management.
According to Bill Bobb, vice president and conservation director of the Port St. Lucie Anglers Club, "This program is of great benefit to the citizens of our county and our visitors from other areas. To me it is a perfect example of a groundswell effort by the public met with cooperation by our local government. It is democracy at its best and will benefit many people for many years to come."
On July 12, Jim Oppenborn, the County's Marine Resource Coordinator, will ask the Commissioners to approve the work authorization for the first deployment in five years for the artificial reef program. If approved, the $60,000 project will begin at the end of July (subject to weather conditions) on the Nearshore Reef site approximately six miles east southeast of the Fort Pierce Inlet. Funding for the current project is provided through the County's general fund, however, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) grants in the amount of $85,000 have been secured for future projects.
For more information, contact Jim Oppenborn at (772) 462-1713.