. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. old tires into the ocean. Federal and state governments require permits for artificial reef construction.) Traditionally the state has construc- ted artificial reefs out of old tires, con- crete rubble and ships. But tires are ex- pensive in terms of manpower, and it's difficult to transport heavy concrete rubble to the dumping sites. Some states have even used old cars, but they deteriorate too quickly. Brown says ships offer the most shelter and extend the greatest distance above the ocean floor. The new
. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. old tires into the ocean. Federal and state governments require permits for artificial reef construction.) Traditionally the state has construc- ted artificial reefs out of old tires, con- crete rubble and ships. But tires are ex- pensive in terms of manpower, and it's difficult to transport heavy concrete rubble to the dumping sites. Some states have even used old cars, but they deteriorate too quickly. Brown says ships offer the most shelter and extend the greatest distance above the ocean floor. The newest addition to the state's artificial reefs will be a World War II Liberty ship. In 1972 Congress made the Liberty ships available to states for reef projects. But stripping, towing and demolition costs run high. The ships must be taken out of storage at the Maritime Reserve Fleet in Virginia and cleaned to meet Environmental Protection Agency standards. All grease, oil and floating objects must be removed. In some cases, the ships must be cut down to facilitate passage of other vessels overhead once the vessel is sunk. The value of the scrap metal was once 'used to offset the cost of preparing the ship for sinking. But the value of the scrap has dropped, and it is no longer economical to cut ships down. The state must contract with a firm to tow the ship—probably about $40,000. In all. Brown estimates it will cost $100,000 to $140,000 to sink the Liberty ship off the Carteret County coast. But the Division of Marine Fisheries' 1984 budget for artificial reef construction and maintenance was approximately $120,000—not nearly enough to cover the cost of such pro- jects. From 1973 to 1977, one-eighth of a percent of the unrebated boater-paid road tax on gasoline was allocated for artificial reef construction. The tax provided as much as $275,000 per year for man-made reefs. But, in 1977 the legislature abolished that tax. Division of Marine Fisheries officials hope the expan
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookcollectionunclibra, booksubjectoceanography
