Alternative Text Description for Artificial Reefs

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the locations of artificial reef deployments throughout Florida's coastal waters. The map shows over 3,300 artificial reef deployment sites managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Artificial Reef Program. Each point represents a single deployment event, illustrating the extensive distribution of artificial reefs along Florida's coastline and offshore waters. The map demonstrates Florida's role in managing one of the most diverse and active artificial reef programs in the United States.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the entire state of Florida and its surrounding coastal waters, including both the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Gulf of America to the west. Major cities labeled on the map include Jacksonville along the northeast coast, Orlando in the central interior, Tampa on the west coast, Cape Coral in southwest Florida, and Miami in the southeast. The map extends from the Florida Panhandle in the northwest, showing Pensacola and Tallahassee, through the entire peninsula, down to the Florida Keys in the south. Neighboring states visible include portions of Georgia and Alabama to the north. The map also shows the Straits of Florida along the southern boundary.

KEY INSIGHTS

Artificial reefs are distributed extensively along Florida's entire coastline, following the state's distinctive peninsula shape. Major concentrations of reef deployments occur in several distinct areas: the Panhandle region near Pensacola and along the northwestern coast, the northeastern coast near Jacksonville, the central east coast near Palm Coast, scattered locations along the west coast including areas near Tampa, and a significant concentration along the Florida Keys extending from the southwest tip of the mainland through the island chain. The Atlantic (east) coast shows more continuous coastal distribution compared to the Gulf of America (west) coast, which displays more dispersed patterns in some areas. Notable gaps in reef deployments appear in central inland Florida and Lake Okeechobee, which are non-coastal areas. The distribution pattern suggests strategic placement along the entire 1,357 miles of Florida's ocean-fronting coastline.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Artificial Reefs

This layer represents individual artificial reef deployment locations throughout Florida's coastal and offshore waters.

Artificial Reef Deployments (bright green points)

Appearance: Bright green points or markers distributed throughout Florida's coastal waters

Distribution: Features appear along the entire perimeter of Florida's coastline, extending offshore into both Atlantic and Gulf of America waters

Notable locations:

Spatial patterns: The reefs follow the natural coastline configuration, with linear arrangements paralleling the shore in many areas. Some areas show clustered patterns suggesting concentrated deployment sites, while others display more dispersed spacing. The distribution pattern indicates both nearshore and offshore placement strategies. Coastal waters show higher densities compared to areas farther offshore, though deployments extend into both state and federal jurisdictions.

Overlapping Patterns

Multiple artificial reef sites occur in close proximity in several high-density areas, particularly around major coastal population centers and fishing destinations. These overlapping deployment zones suggest areas of sustained reef development activity over time.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The map represents deployments spanning 34 of Florida's 35 coastal counties, demonstrating the comprehensive scope of the state's artificial reef program. The artificial reefs shown are distributed approximately evenly between state and federal waters and range in depth from 4 feet to 414 feet, with an average depth of 65 feet. At this scale, all documented artificial reef deployment sites are visible. The map serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding the spatial extent of Florida's artificial reef infrastructure, which supports marine habitat enhancement, fisheries management, and recreational diving opportunities. Users should note that each point represents a deployment event rather than the current physical size or condition of a reef structure.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source: The data is maintained and updated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Division of Marine Fisheries Management. The FWC Artificial Reef Program tracks and reports deployment locations state-wide. Data represents documented artificial reef deployment events including location coordinates and associated metadata. Source layer name: ARTREF_MAY25.

Definition Query: No filtering criteria applied; all artificial reef deployment locations are displayed.

Scale Information: The map shows state-wide coverage appropriate for understanding the overall distribution of Florida's artificial reef program. This scale is suitable for identifying regional patterns and general locations but may not show precise individual reef positions.

Coordinate System: NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content: Data current as of May 2025. The database is continuously maintained and updated by the Division of Marine Fisheries Management. For specific source dates and inputs, refer to the dataset metadata.

Limitations: Each point represents a deployment event at a specific location, which may include multiple structures deployed at the same site on different dates. The data does not indicate the current condition, size, or type of artificial reef structure. Water depth ranges from 4 to 414 feet with considerable variation across deployment sites. Users requiring detailed information about specific reef structures, deployment dates, or materials should consult the source database metadata.

Map Coverage: The map covers the entire state of Florida and extends into adjacent offshore waters in both the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of America, encompassing the full geographic extent of Florida's artificial reef program across state and federal jurisdictions.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.