Island friend Lois noticed this article in the Post and Courier this morning.  There is apparently an artificial reef off the shores of Dewees Island that was established in 1969.  Over the years, non-recyclable inert materials, like steel, have been jettisoned off the island in order to provide structure on the sand floor and create habitat for organisms that support the fishery.

According to the P&C article,

The artificial reef is among 45 fish-attracting structures DNR has developed offshore to give sports anglers and divers a series of underwater rises in the waters off the coast’s big estuaries, on what otherwise would be deserted sand bottom, an investment in what has become a $83 million tourism draw for the state.

Here is a video where you can watch the tanks being lowered into the water.

The Dewees estuaries provide valuable nursery space for larval and juvenile fish.  Our impoundment, Lake Timicau, and the marshes around Horsebend and Velvet creeks are all valuable sources of shelter and food for developing fish.  Apparently, this recycling experiment provides some offshore shelter and food sources for adult fish, which in turn attract anglers.

Thanks to Lois for sending it on!