Redbird Reef Explained

Redbird Reef is an artificial reef located in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Slaughter Beach, Delaware,^[1] 16miles east of the Indian River Inlet.

Established by the Maryland Reef Initiative^[2] in 2001, this reef covers 1.3 square nautical miles of ocean floor and is located 80feet below the surface.^[3]

The reef comprises 714 Redbird (R26–R36 series) New York City Subway cars dumped by Weeks Marine, 86 retired tanks and armored personnel carriers, eight tugboats and barges, and 3,000 tons of ballasted truck tires.^[4]

From 2001 to 2008, within the vicinity of the reef, the amount of marine food per square foot has increased 400 times.^[3]

The site is the most visited reef site off Delaware's coast, receiving more than 10,000 fishing parties annually, and is home to numerous marine species, including black sea bass, flounder, blue mussels, sponges, barnacles, and coral. Also, tuna and mackerel hunt at the reef. The site has become so popular that fishermen steal from each other, and other states apply for the next subway cars to be dumped in their waters.^[3]

See also

• Marine biology
• Temple Reef

References

• Deepwater Reef Coordinates: Reference for coordinates

Further reading

• Raineault. Nicole A.. Trembanis. Arthur C.. Miller. Douglas C.. Capone. Vince. Interannual changes in seafloor surficial geology at an artificial reef site on the inner continental shelf. Continental Shelf Research. 2013. 58. 67–78. 10.1016/j.csr.2013.03.008. 2013CSR....58...67R.

External links

• Exact coordinates for submerged objects

38.589°N -74.112°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: From Trash To Treasure- Artificial Reefs Uncovered. https://web.archive.org/web/20110118204730/http://aquaviews.net/from-trash-to-treasure-artificial-reefs-uncovered/. 18 January 2011. 1 April 2010. Noreen. (Anonymous). blog. LeisurePro. AquaViews.
2. http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/News/Pages/DNRECSinksThreeTugboatsOffDelawareCoasttoEnhanceArtificialReef;.aspx DNREC Sinks Three Tugboats Off Delaware Coast to Enhance Artificial Reef; Vessels Recycled on “Redbird Reef” As Home for Fish and Sea Life
3. Urbina, Ian. Growing pains for a deep-sea home built of subway cars New York Times, 2008. Accessed: 10 March 2011.
4. Web site: Red Bird Reef sinkings . 2011-02-11 . 2011-01-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110104083823/http://www.fw.delaware.gov/Fisheries/Pages/Red%20Bird%20Reef%20sinkings.aspx . dead .