50TH ARTIFICIAL REEFS, 2: Recycling obsolete items 
into valuable marine habitat ... details ahead on 
Passport to Texas.

This is Passport to Texas

We call outdated oil rigs, decommissioned ships and 
other materials placed in the Gulf of Mexico (where 
they become marine habitat) artificial reefs.

06 -- Smaller type of organisms will attach to that and begin the 
basics of a food web.

Dale Shively oversees the AR program for TPW. Small 
marine organisms -- which are always in the gulf, but 
diffuse -- become concentrated on reefed materials, 
which in turn attract a variety of fish species.

06 -- So, you're basically giving the marine environment a base, or 
foundation to get started on.

Artificial reefs - in federal and state waters - create 
improved angling and diving opportunities; that 
brings dollars to coastal communities.

13 -- By creating artificial reefs, we've helped to increase those 
populations of marine life, and basically give divers and anglers 
more opportunities to experience those types of things out in the 
gulf.

These manmade reefs will last for many decades, 
enhancing the ecosystem and angling for generations to 
come.

11 -- Unless they're a migratory species, once fish and marine life 
have acclimated to that area, and start to reproduce, then they'll 
stay there and will spend most of their life in that one particular 
area.

The Sport Fish restoration program supports our series 
and is funded by your purchase of fishing equipment and 
motorboat fuel. 

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

Total sound bite time:		 0:36.0
Maximum Script time:		 0:49.0 Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25