SARASOTA, Fla. — The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program will provide essential fish pupils a chance to grow healthy with their latest installation of artificial coral reefs.
Just in time for Earth Day, 24 deep-cover reef modules will be installed the week of April 22 at six coral reef locations throughout Sarasota Bay, according to an SBEP news release.
Bayshore North Reef, Whale Key Reef, and Bayshore South Reef in Manatee County; and Walkers Reef, Harts Reef, and Sportsmans Reef in Sarasota County will receive the installations.
The modules, created and overseen by Reef Innovations of Sarasota, were made to attract young reef fish like gray snapper, sheepshead and gag grouper, up until they grow to be two years old, the release said.
From there, the reefs keep the fish safe from predators and humans until they grow into adulthood, which fishermen then benefit from.
“People like Sarasota Bay to be healthy enough to catch fish, this helps them catch fish,” Sarasota Bay Estuary Program executive director Dave Tomasko said in a statement.
Artificial reefs have been popping up for a few months now, including a sunken boat installation off the coast of the panhandle and “reef ball” installations in Hernando County.