Artificial reef construction and natural reef marking in Texas bays

Abstract

Six artificial reefs made from 11,400 automobile tires were built in the Sabine Lake, Galveston, Matagorda (Tres Palacios Bay), Aransas and Corpus Christi Bay systems in April-October 1977. Reefs were built in waters 1.2-2.7 meters (4-9 feet) deep. A Goodyear tire punch and baler were used to bale tires to form compact modules for five reefs, and a single reef made with truck and tractor tires that were laid flat to form a wadefish reef in shallow water. Reefs ranged in size from 0.1 to 0.4 hectares. Natural fishing reefs were marked with buoys and polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe to enable fishermen to find them. Buoys were placed on reefs in waters deeper than 1.2 meters and (PVC) pipes were installed on reefs in waters less than 1.2 meters. In all, 41 buoys and 22 PVC pipes were placed on natural reefs.