Mission Statement

2. Mission Statement • To promote understanding of the economic and ecological benefits of Artificial Reefs in Eastern North Carolina, in order to raise money for the sinking of new Shipwrecks for the enjoyment of SCUBA Divers and Sports Fisherman along the Crystal Coast of North Carolina.

3. What is An Artificial Reef Habitat? • “A place, or set of places, in which a fish, fish population, or fish assemblage finds the physical, chemical, and biological features needed for life.”

4. Artificial Reef Facts • Artificial Reefs - restore, mitigate, or create habitat, to improve recruitment, and enhance juvenile survival and growth of reef-associated species • Artificial Reefs are spawning, nursery, and feeding areas for most of state’s important coastal fishery species • Artificial reef fish habitats are interdependent. What happens to one habitat can affect the entire ecosystem • Most fish species use different artificial reef habitats (near shore or off shore) at different life stages • NC is mostly soft sand bottom with very little hard bottom – The Shipwrecks off our coast serve as most of NC’s Hard Bottom • Hard bottom provides hard complex vertical structure for attachment of sponges, seaweed, and coral, which in turn support a diverse reef fish community

5. Artificial Reef Facts • Vessels, due to high vertical profile, attract both pelagic (open ocean) and demersal (bottom dewelling) • Vertical surfaces produce upwelling conditions, current shadows, and other current speed and direction alterations which are attractive to schooling foraging fish • Vertical profile of ships produces an interruption of the bottom currents and creates vortex currents (shed eddies), which attract migratory pelagic fish such as mackerels and jacks • As many as 47 reef fish species inhabit near shore ocean reefs, and twice that number use offshore reefs • Near shore hard bottom reefs provide numerous hiding places for small and juvenile reef fish such as gobies, gag, black sea bass, and pigfish • King mackerel forage over offshore ocean reefs, while adult gag, black sea bass, and snappers hunt among the structure

6. Why Do We Need More Artificial Reefs? • North Carolina’s estuarine and coastal waters are showing signs of habitat degradation and lack of recovery of certain fishery species despite reduced harvest, and negative changes in ecosystem structure • Increasing pressures on coastal and marine resources and habitats, including loss of habitat and degradation of water quality and habitat, are threatening North Carolina’s fisheries • Ships sunk as artificial reefs since World War II have had their vertical structure reduced by hurricanes and are also undergoing salt water oxidation • More ships with vertical structure are needed to replenish existing artificial reefs • Vessels have life spans as artificial reefs that may exceed 50 years, depending on vessel type, physical condition, location of deployment, and storm severity

7. Vertical Structure Vs. Rubble Rock

8. Vertical Structure

9. Rubble Rock Reef (near Indra)

10. Economic Impact • When Florida sank the USS Spiegel Grove as an artificial reef in 2002, Recreational Expenditures increased by $2,610,412 • Escambia County, Florida will see $92 million a year in economic benefits from the USS Oriskany being sunk as an artificial reef • The return on investment in Florida has been as high as $157.00 for every dollar spent on artificial reefs • Vessels provide a social and economic benefit to the local community through related business and tourism • 87% of Divers spend more than $1000 per person on a typical dive vacation • North Carolina is the third largest recreational fishery in the US with over 2 million anglers and growing.

11. Dollar for Dollar USS Oriskany • Cost $20+ Million to Sink • $1 Million Return on Investment in 3 Days • Sunk primarily as a fishing reef • Fish populating Oriskany faster than expected • 17% Increase in bed tax collections • Dive Charter supply insufficient to meet demand • Two Dive Charter companies added to fleet • Trips being booked 12-16 months in advanced $1M-$1.4M In Tourism Per Month

12. Economy • Spiegle Grove - $9-14 Million per year • Vandenburg – Projected $11 Million per year* • NOAA Study being released soon for 1st year • Artificial Reefs in Monroe County created 2100 Jobs • Spiegle Grove Alone created 64 Jobs • For every $1 spent on artificial reefs in the Florida Panhandle, the conservative overall economic benefit of the artificial reef system over its average functioning life span is $138 That is a 13,800% return on investment.

13. ECARA Projects

14. Nepamuk • First Vessel Sunk by ECARA on June 11, 2009 • Donated by Bock Marine • The Nepamuk was a schooner that was built in France in 1973. It is 50 feet long, 15 feet wide, draws 8 feet and has a raked stem with a curved transom. • Sunk AR 330 Site (same as the Indra)

15. 130’ Barge • Collecting Scrap Metal and old boat trailers to weld to the deck to create superstructure. • Barge we be prepped for Transport in the next 2 weeks • AR 330 Site – final destination

16. Future Projects

17. USS Mohawk CGC

18. USS Mohawk CGC • Commissioned January 19, 1935 • 165’ “A” Class Cutter • Same Family as USCGC Icarus (sank U-352) • Engaged 14 Submarines between Aug. 27, 1942 and April 8, 1945 • Last Ship to Radio President Eisenhower with Weather information before the Normandy Invastion

19. How Can You Help? • Fill Out Survey at www.carolinareef.org • Attend ECARA Events • Educate people about the importance of Artificial Reefs • Donate to ECARA • Purchase ECARA T-shirts • When needed help lobby with NC legislature

20. Questions