Divetalking » Artificial Reefs » Study finds artificial reefs are economic boon, enjoy widespread public support
Study finds artificial reefs are economic boon, enjoy widespread public support
by Mickie Anderson, UF/IFAS News
(Aug. 4, 2011) — A new Florida Sea Grant study of artificial reef use in six
Southwest Florida counties shows the structures lure a lot more than fish.
The reefs, which provide habitat for popular sport fish and other marine
life, pulled more than $253 million into the region during one year, the study
found. Though it costs nothing more than a saltwater fishing license to use the
submerged structures as a fishing spot, anglers spend money on food, lodging,
fuel, tackle and other necessities.
The UF and Florida Sea Grant study, TP-178
Economic Impacts of Artificial Reefs for Six Southwest Florida Counties,
looked at money generated by artificial reefs in Pinellas, Hillsborough,
Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties in 2009. Researchers found that
$136 million came from residents, while $117 million was spent by visitors.
Bob
Swett, the UF associate professor and Florida Sea Grant extension specialist
who led the study, said he was struck most by the contrast between the income
generated and the small amount counties invest in the reefs — ranging from
$20,000 to $60,000 a year for each county, with some years requiring little to
no spending. The reefs also enjoy private support, such as local marine
contractors who donate materials and in-kind labor.
“That shows me that there’s a lot of bang for the buck in terms of what they
get out of the artificial reef programs,” said Swett, also a member of UF’s
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Chris Neal, who works for the Scuba Quest dive shop chain’s Sarasota
location, said his company frequently takes groups of divers out to artificial
reefs because the man-made structures allow divers to see such a wide variety of
fish and wildlife.
“You can see all kinds of fish – flounder, hogfish, snapper and grouper,” he
said.
Besides asking residents about their reef-related spending, the UF
researchers also asked boaters who use reefs and those who do not their opinions
about spending public money to build and maintain the structures, which are
typically underwater piles of large, hollow concrete blocks where fish can
hide.
While users were more likely to support such spending (county responses
ranged from 83 percent to 95 percent, in favor), Swett said he was also
impressed by non-reef users’ enthusiasm. Their support for spending public money
on reefs ranged from 61 percent to 71 percent.
Artificial reefs are used for a number of activities, among them: enhancing
recreational and charter fishing and diving, boosting reef fish populations and
aiding scientific research.
For more than three decades, Florida Sea Grant has contributed to the
evolution of the state’s reef-building community through research, scientific
conferences and outreach activities. Many of its coastal county-based extension
faculty are involved in some activity related to artificial reefs.
Florida’s artificial reef program, created in 1982, includes more than 2,500
documented artificial reefs in the state’s coastal waters. About one-third of
them were the subject of the recent economic study.
Other survey highlights: on average, more than 5,600 southwest Florida
residents use artificial reefs every day; for-hire fishing enterprises,
including fishing guides, charter boats and party boats, accounted for nearly
$90 million in spending, and artificial reefs support more than 2,500 full- and
part-time jobs.
The researchers used a combination of mail, telephone and e-mail to collect
survey responses.
The study was funded by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the West Coast Inland Navigation District and the
participating counties. Besides Swett, the research team included Chuck Adams, a
marine economics professor; Sherry Larkin, associate professor in resource
economics, extension scientist Alan Hodges and postdoctoral associate Thomas J.
Stevens.
For more information contact
Bob Swett
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spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or
John Stevely
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spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Economic Impacts by County:
Download a copy of TP-178 Economic Impacts of Artificial Reefs for Six Southwest Florida Counties here.. (3.21 MB PDF )
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Understanding the Ecology of Artificial Reefs: No Simple
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TP 170, Jan. 2010
The Economic
Benefits Associated with Florida’s Artificial Reefs,
FE 649, Aug
2009
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