Mini reefs to be installed in the waters of Fort Myers Beach

Reporter: Nicole Lauren
Published: Updated:
Artificial mini reef. Photo via WINK News

Thursday morning, artificial mini reefs are being installed in the waters of Fort Myers Beach.

48 units in all will be placed into the water to replace what was lost decades ago because of development. Officials say there is a lot of wasted space in the water and the units make up for it.

The mini reefs can also be beneficial when it comes to the water crisis in Southwest Florida.

“Well the filter feeders that live on it like oysters- on average there going to filter about 30 thousand gallons a day from the green algae- plankton- red tide things like that. And then each year they give fish and crabs a chance to grow up where in the canal system there normally isn’t an eco-system for them to survive they’ll just be Eaten,” said President and Executive Director of Ocean Habitats, David Wolf.

Ocean Habitats say they will be installing the reefs at 9 a.m. on Thursday.

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