Artificial
ReefsPictures of Candy's Private Artificial Reef Project
ECRA Members purchase "retired" chicken transfer cages for use as Artificial Reefs.
From January 2007 to March 2007 The Emerald Coast Reef Assoc. and it's members have deployed 36 reefs in the Gulf of Mexico.
We believe the best way to maintain a healthy fish population off our coast is to provide viable fish habitat. Our members are conducting research on ECRA's Chicken Coop Reefs to evaluate them as sustainable reef systems.
For more information, contact Candy at: candy@ecreef.org
* Click on a Picture to enlarge it
| Coop Delivery and Cleaning | |
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You Tube Video
If the video stalls, click on the red button that moves the sliding bar. |
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A "Reef" consists of two "Chicken Transfer Cages" (we call them coops) which are chained together. The "coops" meet Okaloosa County standards for "Reef Material" and they are deployed in the Gulf of Mexico in pre-approve locations. The following pictures show the delivery, cleaning, and deployment process. |
The Coops are delivered on a flatbed truck. |
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Joe Young Joe rents us the storage yard and helps us move coops from the flatbed to the storage area. He makes driving a forklift look easy. |
Capt Kelly Windes Kelly drives the forklift and the boat. An all around great guy to have around! |
Two Coops are lifted at a time and transferred to the storage yard. |
Step 1: Remove the center support to gain access to the fiberglass shelves. |
Step 2: Remove fiberglass shelves. |
Step 3: Chain the Coops together at opposite corners (2 coops chained together constitute a single "Artificial Reef") |
A cut-off tool is the right tool for the job |
Gloves, crowbars, bolt cutters, and vise grips also come in handy |
Teamwork makes the job much easier |
Group Pictures |
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Coop Deployment |
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ECRA members on the dock prior to deployment. |
Stern of deployment boat "Michael Scott" with our load of coops |
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Candy organized the entire artificial reef effort . . .from purchase of the coops to final deployment |
Capt Kelly Windes worked with us on a daily basis to make sure we could deploy as soon as the weather cooperated |
ECRA Members Steve & Wayne in the wheel house |
Capt .Steve releases a Reef for deployment |
Steve gives it a try, but he forgot his gloves |
Candy remembered her gloves, but can't quite get the coop overboard |
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The professionals take over Going. . . |
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| Going. . . |
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| Gone! |
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Three Reefs to Go |
ECRA Members Debbie, Wayne, Candy, and Dave |
Going Home: The view astern |
Going Home: Destin comes into view |
