Fire Island Artificial Reef

Fire Island Artificial Reef

2.0 nautical miles south of Fire Island Lighthouse, 1.33 sq miles
Depth: 62 - 73 ft

Fire Island Artificial Reef

Not Shown:

  • 1,500 automobile tires


rock reef
A hopper barge full of rock

All manner of concrete, steel, and stone rubble from dredging, demolition projects, and other construction is used as artificial reef materials. This material is generally available at very low cost or free from construction companies who are more than happy to get rid of it. Transportation costs determine where this material is used by the Reef Program.





The "Ocean Prince" drydock (above) was sunk in 1986 and is well-attested. New York has photos of a clearly different drydock which they place here, but I believe is actually at Shinnecock, and I have placed it there.

Type:
artificial reef, barges
Depth:
62 - 73 ft
Name Description Sunk GPS
110 ft steel Thursday
Sept 9, 1999
40°35.973'
-73°13.242'
Air Force
Scow
110 ft steel Sunday
Oct 14, 2018
40°35.914'
-73°11.986'
Dump Scow
DS-24
100 ft steel Sunday
Oct 14, 2018
40°35.838'
-73°12.015'
Irvington 60 ft steel 2024 40°35.949'
-73°12.308'
Piano Scow 30 ft steel Sunday
Oct 14, 2018
40°35.872'
-73°12.022'
"Ocean Prince"
Drydock #4
200 ft steel
drydock
Saturday
Nov 29, 1986
40°35.704'
-73°11.968'

"Higher animals" is a catch-all term for vertebrates other than fish. This is rather self-congratulatory, since the so-called "lower animals" - fishes and invertebrates - are actually the dominant species on the planet, both in numbers and diversity! The four classes of higher animals are:

  • Amphibians - class Amphibia
  • Reptiles - class Reptilia
  • Birds - class Aves
  • Mammals - class Mammalia

Of these, amphibians are absent from marine environments ( with one or two exceptions. )