GULF OF MEXICO - The City of Mexico Beach and the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association (MBARA) have once again teamed up to build 19 new reefs off of the coast of Mexico Beach and Port St. Joe.  Using a $60,000 dollar grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and $20,000 dollars in matching funds from the MBARA, the MBARA led an expedition on Friday, June 19, out in the Gulf of Mexico with the purpose of building new marine habitat that will serve to provide support for the fish population of our area.

A total of 74 pieces of structure were used that were built by Walter Marine out of Orange Beach, Alabama.  Two different types of structures were used-one being like an Indian teepee and the other like a cave.  Each piece weighs about 5,000 pounds.  The new cave design is called the Grouper Module and was designed by Keith Neel of Port St. Joe.  Keith is the Director of Research for the MBARA.  It is built to resemble a cave and give the grouper a feeling of safety and security.

Neel added, "With more and more natural bottom being being destroyed each year, it is essential that we begin to rebuild what they need to survive and prosper."

This new design will allow the MBARA research dive team to check and see how this design provides a home for the grouper that come from the St. Joe Bay to the Bell Shoal area and then to the deeper areas as they slowly work their way offshore.

Three special reefs were built as memorials.

They were the Clay Eubanks Memorial Reef, the Mike Trombley Memorial Reef, and the Stephen A. Cook Memorial Reef.

These reefs will celebrate the lives of these three outstanding men who loved this area in a very special way.  Two other special reefs were the Marquardt Offshore Classic Reef which was sponsored by the anglers in the Marquardt Marina annual event and the Bluewater Outrigger Reef No. l built with funds from the Bluewater Charity Classic Tournament.

Ron Childs, President of the MBARA, said, "This was a great day for the MBARA and a very special day in that we honored three really great men who had a deep appreciation for all the good things we find in our special place here on the beach.

"The MBARA is just proud to be a part of this community and we hope that our contribution to the fishing, diving, boating, and tourism will help this area thrive and prosper."

Childs emphasized, "People have to appreciate that according to NOAA Fisheries Services Report last year fishing generated $185 billion in sales and two million jobs in the economy."

In Florida, recreational fishermen generated 7.6 billion dollars in sales and generated 131,000 jobs.

"Building reefs will add to our local economy which is built around fishing and tourism,"  Childs added.