11-132-CWS | December 21, 2011
BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources’ (MDMR) Artificial Reef Bureau has completed work on the Pass Christian Key, which is an inshore reef comprised of deployed material from the Bay St. Louis Washington Street Pier.
The concrete rubble from the pier was donated to MDMR for the purpose of creating a new artificial reef in the Mississippi Sound. The well-lit fishing reef is located a little over one half mile south of the beach and one mile east of the Pass Christian Harbor.
Since April 2007, the MDMR Artificial Reef Bureau has conducted 141 inshore material deployments in the three coastal counties, using 24,000 cubic yards of crushed concrete and limestone. In addition, since September 2006, the Artificial Reef Bureau has conducted 115 offshore deployments using materials such as retired fishing vessels, concrete culverts, missile ballasts and even a 107,000-gallon tank donated by Stennis Space Center.
“We’re extremely proud to be able to say that over 100 percent of Mississippi’s pre-Katrina artificial inshore and offshore reefs have been restored,” said Kerwin Cuevas, MDMR Artificial Reef Bureau Director.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes. Visit the DMR online at www.dmr.ms.gov.
PHOTO CREDIT: Photos Courtesy of Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
PHOTO CUTLINE: Photo: Aerial view of Pass Christian Key, an inshore reef comprised of deployed material from the Bay St. Louis Washington Street Pier.
Contact: Jennifer Goldman Leirer
Phone: 228-523-4101
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