Outside of Boca Grande, Ocean Habitats, Inc. has
installed hundreds of habitats
under docks and in canals in
Marco Island, Naples, Fort
Myers and Stuart, and
the owner is now
looking at expanding
into the Tampa Bay
region. These habitat
features are constructed
of fiberglass,
PVC pipe, polypropylene
rope and crabtrap
floats. For most
customers, however,
cleaner water is just a
side benefit to the
number and diversity of fish
attracted to once-barren habitats
that once primarily hosted
catfish with an occasional
sheepshead prior to the habitat installation.
One critical element of the Mini Reefs is that
they do not interfere with boat traffic, as they are
located under existing docks.
Since the 2016 project more residents have joined
Wolff ’s Ocean Habitats efforts, and now a total of 280
Mini Reefs line the canals of Marco Island.
The habitats have proven so popular that some people install
Plexiglas sections and lights under their docks specifically to watch
the wildlife that the habitats have attracted, Wolff said.
The Mini Reef mimics the environment
that is normally found in the prop root
system of mangrove trees.
The Mini Reefs function much like the mangrove systems that originally lined Florida’s coast. In just three
years, the habitats reach peak efficiency with oysters and other filter feeders.
Based on his work at USF, Wolff created a water quality project to document the impact in local canals,
with volunteers collecting water and tests being performed by Ocean Habitats staff and student interns
from local schools and universities. New volunteers and interns are sought. Contact Wolff for more details.
“The goal now is to show how much difference these habitats make in water quality,” he adds. “People can
already see what a difference they make in wildlife.”
Mote Marine Laboratory scientist Dr. Jim Locascio said the Mini-Reefs provide recruitment, settlement
and habitat for juvenile fishes and invertebrates ranging from filter feeding organisms to shrimps and crabs.
“The simple, straightforward design is effective and used most commonly under docks where natural
habitat has often been replaced by nearby seawall construction,” Locascio said. “Effectively these artificial
reef structures can help remediate some effects of habitat loss and help to support a healthy local ecosystem.
Nothing can provide better habitat than the natural mangrove shorelines, but these artificial habitats
do clearly promote recruitment and growth of organisms where it would not otherwise occur. It would be
interesting to study the long-term effects of these structures and their contributions to local ecosystems.”
Mini Reef systems are available for $250, or $450 for the Mini Reef Plus, the larger version of the
system. Delivery and installation is included in Florida for every Mini Reef purchased. A portion of the $250
cost is tax deductible as Ocean Habitats is a 501(c)3 recognized non-profit.
For more information, contact Ocean Habitats via oceanhabitatsinc.com, or call David Wolff
at (218) 841-5932.
G
M
/oceanhabitatsinc.com
