Florida Sea Grant’s Extension and Research Help Florida’s Artificial Reef Program Generate $3.1 Billion in Economic Activity

April 24, 2022

In addition to offering habitat to fish, artificial reefs improve fishing opportunities and create new scuba diving destinations. Photo credit: Florida Sea Grant

Florida Sea Grant augments the state’s artificial reef efforts, worth $3.1 billion annually, by developing and communicating science-based information about improvements to artificial reef technology for the state’s coastal communities and a worldwide audience. Reef development in Florida began in the late 1970s in response to fisheries depletion and habitat degradation. Today, approximately 70-100 public artificial reefs are deployed annually off Florida with federal, state and local government and private funds.

Florida’s artificial reef coordinator recently stated that “Sea Grant’s contribution to Florida’s Artificial Reef Program continues to be significant state-wide.” The state’s recent economic analysis shows that fishing and diving activity on artificial reefs annually provides 39,000 jobs for Floridians, generating $3.1 billion of economic activity.

Group of people removing ghost nets from a beach.

Alabama

Biden-Harris administration invests $27 million to support community-driven marine debris solutions through Investing in America agenda

Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced $27 million in funding for projects to prevent and remove marine debris in coastal and Great Lakes communities as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

This funding will support innovative research and foster local coalitions to address urgent marine debris issues by using NOAA Sea Grant’s partnered approach to bring science together with communities for solutions that work.

Shoring up the future, together: Collaborative efforts in coastal resilience across the Mid-Atlantic

Community members and city leaders gathered during a listening session to identify key climate readiness needs in Erie, Pennsylvania during June of 2023. (Photo by

Biden-Harris Administration invests $60 million to build a climate-ready workforce through Investing in America agenda

Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced $60 million in funding to help train and place people in jobs that advance a climate-ready workforce for coastal and Great Lakes states, Tribes and Territories as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda under the Inflation Reduction Act. To date, awards like these from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda have created more than 270,000 jobs across the country.

The funding will support nine projects around the nation, with $50 million going directly to the projects and $10 million for technical assistance to support the grantees.