ARTIFICIAL REEFS: What the Gulf of Mexico lacks, artificial 
reefs provide ... details are ahead on Passport to Texas ... 
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Passport to Texas from TPWD and the SFWR program

An artificial reef is marine habitat that has been created 
by man and placed on the ocean bottom for the benefit of 
marine life. 
 
Nature has a way of providing its own habitat, but in the case of 
the Gulf of Mexico - offshore Texas - most of the substrate is 
soft, kind of murky, muddy, and there's very little hard 
substrate out there. :12

Dale Shively coordinates the artificial reef program for 
Texas Parks and Wildlife. Hard substrate is necessary for 
the development of reefs. Once the material for the 
substrate is deployed, it takes only a day or so for marine 
life to attach to it.

In a very short period of time, the substrate is covered with 
barnacles and sponges and some types of coral. And that 
begins the basis of the food web as we know it. :10

A variety of items have been sunk for artificial reefs, from 
oil rigs to concrete rubble. But why should the average 
Texan care about this effort to create artificial reefs?

Our primary goal and objective is to preserve and enhance the 
marine environment. By doing that, we also create fishing and 
diving opportunities. :09

What's the next big thing going into the gulf for reef?
 
The ship itself is 473 feet long ... :04

Details tomorrow ... Our show is supported by the Sport 
Fish Restoration Program ... funded by your purchase of 
fishing equipment and motor boat fuels. 

For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti. 


Total sound bite time:		0:35.0
 Maximum Script time:		0:51.0 Suggested show time: 86.0 = 1:26