Workers are submerging three million pounds of recycled concrete drainage pipes across three targeted sites off Okaloosa County. The structures sit between four and eight nautical miles off Destin-Fort Walton Beach in waters up to 74 feet deep, designed specifically to withstand storm surges. Over time, organisms like soft corals will encrust the concrete while hollow cavities protect baitfish and attract commercial species such as grouper and snapper. State scientists plan to monitor the sites through November 2026 to evaluate ecological progress.
Key points
The artificial structures convert flat sandy seafloor into complex habitats that bolster…: The artificial structures convert flat sandy seafloor into complex habitats that bolster commercial and recreational fisheries.
Hollow pipe interiors provide critical refuge for smaller fish while attracting larger pr…: Hollow pipe interiors provide critical refuge for smaller fish while attracting larger predators including snappers and amberjacks.
State scientists will actively monitor the new underwater sites to track coral growth and…: State scientists will actively monitor the new underwater sites to track coral growth and fish colonization through November 2026.
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A major marine construction project is underway off the coast of Okaloosa County, where workers have started placing three million pounds of recycled concrete drainage pipes on the seabed to create three artificial reefs. The project involves lowering 1,500 tons of heavy concrete pipes into the Gulf of Mexico near Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Each of the three planned reef sites will receive around 500 tons of material. The pipes will be arranged in large groups to provide shelter and feeding areas for local marine life. According to information released by the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida, the work is expected to continue through November 2026.
Site selection and underwater structure
The concrete pipes are being placed at selected locations between four and eight nautical miles off East Pass. The water depth at the three sites ranges from 68 to 74 feet. Engineers have planned the arrangement of the heavy pipes to create complex underwater habitats on an otherwise flat, sandy seabed. Once the pipes settle on the ocean floor, their concrete surfaces will provide places for algae, barnacles and…
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