[dropcap]A[/dropcap]“Bahamian coral head” designed artificial reef has taken shape just off the Jupiter coastline, thanks to the Andrew “Red” Harris Foundation, Inc. (ARHF) and Palm Beach County, with additional financial support from the Coastal Conservation Association’s Building Conservation Trust, the West Palm Beach Fishing Club’s Palm Beach Fishing Foundation, Jupiter Dive Center, the Town of Jupiter, and friends of the ARHF. The ARHF contracted with Pineapple Grove Design’s sculptor, Chris O’Hare to design and construct free-form artificial reef modules that resemble natural coral heads found in the Bahamas. The forty modules, ten groupings of four, were spaced along 350’ (north to south) of sandy bottom in approximately 40’ of water depth. The concrete reef modules are five to eight foot in height, with lots of nooks and crannies for a myriad of sea life to call home. The very next day after the reef was deployed, and while diving on her birthday, a goliath grouper was spotted by Christina Harris.
Andrew was an avid fisherman and diver who was tragically struck and killed by a boat in the Jupiter Inlet while snorkeling. His family and friends formed the Andrew “Red” Harris Foundation to honor his memory and assure he is not forgotten. They believe helping to ensure the long-term health and vibrancy of offshore waters by building artificial reefs in the waters where he loved to dive and fish off northern Palm Beach County is the best way to do so.
The artificial reefs feature a very unique modular concept, and weigh approximately 3 tons. The modules consist of a base that is about 2000 lbs. that serves as the foundation for the cells, which were assembled on land with a single pick-up point to facilitate deployment. The individual cells, about six feet wide and eight feet long, have multiple concrete “potato chip-like” layers placed over a central concrete column.
In very short order, the new Bahamian coral head style artificial reefs will likely be teeming with invertebrates and all manner of marine life. They are already swarming with fish and other visitors.
Palm Beach County and the ARHF plan to continue the placement of reef modules over the next two summers with a planned 200 additional modules, 100 for each of the next two summers. The foundation is presently raising money to pay the Foundation’s $280,000 share of the cost.
Coordinates for the south end of this first Andrew “Red” Harris Foundation artificial reef are N 26 57.938 W 080 03.549. ABSOLUTELY NO ANCHORING! With the structures reaching to 8’ in height, this is shallow enough to free dive without scuba gear. Boaters, be sure to observe the rules for dive flags: Any vessel other than a law enforcement or rescue vessel that approaches within 100 feet of a divers-down flag on a river, inlet, or navigation channel, or within 300 feet of a divers-down flag on waters other than a river, inlet, or
navigation channel, must proceed no faster than is necessary to maintain headway and steerageway.
If you would like more information about the Andrew “Red” Harris Foundation, or to contribute to the future projects, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.andrewredharrisfoundation.org.
