The Monroe County government has placed its first artificial reef project, which includes deploying 45 power poles, out to bid.
The Monroe County Commission recently approved a Request for Proposals to deploy approximately 45 concrete power poles received from two sources, including the Florida Keys Electric Co-op’s Sea Oats Beach project in Islamorada. Monroe County’s Artificial Reefs Director Hanna Koch has been working closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to prepare for this much-anticipated first deployment, which will be about 16 nautical miles northeast of Key West in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
These materials will provide structural habitat in an area where that would otherwise is none to support marine life and provide new fishing opportunities for locals and visitors. The materials will be deployed to create three distinct patch reefs that will be added to over time to increase habitat complexity and space for marine life. The program is entirely funded through a grant from the State of Florida.