The Ocean City Reef Foundation;
 An important piece to the fisheries puzzle.
2002

The Ocean City Reef Foundation seeks to better the marine habitat along the coast of Maryland. Artificial reefs dramatically increase the amount of marine life that can be supported in a given area. When compared to sand and crushed shell, a reef-like area can support a many thousand percent increase in the amount of life along the bottom. Some reef programs, such as Alabama's, have built reef dwelling fish stocks to new historical highs. Along the coast of Maryland, species such as codfish, porgy, tautog and ling are still recreationally and commercially endangered. Sea bass, flounder, trout, the tunas and billfish are only slightly above their historical lows.

The problem of overfishing is now global in scope. Scientists from many countries are concerned that, in addition to overfishing and pollution, habitat damage by commercial bottom tending gear types may be affecting the recovery of certain species of fish. The Reef Foundation does not seek the banning of any commercial gear types. However, it is hoped that future impacts to natural live bottom communities can be minimized. The more productive the ocean becomes the less tension there will be between user groups. It is likely that, over a period of many decades, the loss of benthic habitat has had profound effects on the fisheries. Despite our increasing knowledge, no means have yet been devised to reclaim natural bottom habitat. Artificial reefs therefore, remain the best strategy towards rebuilding an important part of the fisheries.

There are also several ways that these gear types can change the ecology of a given area permanently. The removal of substrate occurs when rocks get fouled in fishing gear and are taken to new locations so that they don't affect future trips. Repeated passes occurring over many years can polish sandstone substrate smooth which minimizes the habitat's benefits. Simply flipping over rocks and large shells can retard the holding capacity of an area. Burying low profile substrates in silt and sand preclude any further benefit to the marine ecosystem.

It is highly probable that natural reef-like areas, or "live bottom," in the mid-Atlantic bight was once the foundation for an area teeming with life. On the Delmarva ocean floor we have several types of natural bottom habitat. Most of the Old Grounds, located off the coast of Delaware, are comprised of glacially deposited rock and pebble. The larger rocks form the base for coral and sea whip colonies, mussel beds seem to favor the pebble bottom. Moving south towards Ocean City glacial deposits diminish. More common here are areas of compressed clay and sandstone that are loaded with the impressions of shells, fossils in the making perhaps. The voids where shells have decayed are full of various crabs and worms. These sandstone slabs have cave-like areas under them caused by ocean currents and perhaps fish scouring. These ledges are used as habitat by fish, crabs and lobster. Growing on top of this hard substrate are mats of shrubby hydrozoans and bryzoans that, although only three or so inches in height, support a wide variety of shrimp-like creatures. Occasionally there are harder bottoms, including some boulder, that support coral growths. Some of the sloughs also have an abundance of surfclam shell. This type of shell can get rather large, 7 or 8 inches would not be uncommon, and can also support colonies of invertebrates such as hydrozoans and bryzoans. Denser invertebrate growths support more crab and shrimp-like animals, providing more forage for larger fish populations.

It is arguable that the quality of the bottom is a major factor affecting entire populations of fish. Once bottom dwelling species of fish larvae settle out of the water column, in the very early stages of juvenile development, it is habitat that dictates whether there is a good survival rate or not. It is the ability to feed well and avoid being eaten in the area of settlement that allow fish to flourish. Indeed, if predator / prey relationships are considered, then most species of fish are dependent on the health of the bottom at some stage in their life.

With your support the Ocean City Reef Foundation can continue to improve Maryland's marine habitat and help to leave a legacy of enjoyable fishing and diving experiences for generations to come.