FWC Home : Licenses & Permits : Artificial Reefs

Permits: Artificial Reefs

Other Artificial Reef Information Locate Reefs List of Florida Reefs Photos of Florida Reefs Strategic Plan Guidelines for Marine Artificial Reef Materials, 2nd Edition (2004), GSMFC Best Management Practices for Preparing Vessels Intended to Create Artificial Reefs, US EPA Permits for Artificial Reef Construction FWC Artificial Reef Materials Cargo Manifest and Pre-Deployment Notification Form FWC Artificial Materials Placement Report Form 2010 Florida Artificial Reef Summit Maritime Administration Ship Disposal Program Oriskany Artificial Reef Oriskany Reef Dive Safety Considerations Oriskany Photos - Topside Oriskany Photos - Underwater Oriskany Dive Accident Management Plan Vandenberg Artificial Reef Order a free video about Florida's Program 2010 Florida Artificial Reef Summit Maritime Administration Ship Disposal Program

The FWC artificial reef program does not issue permits for artificial reef sites. This regulatory responsibility is carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) for proposed artificial reef areas in federal waters, and by both the ACOE and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in state waters. Both of these regulatory agencies accept comments from FWC and other interested parties during the artificial reef application review process. Due to liability issues, associated with sitting and placing materials on the sea floor, in the last six years the ACOE has not issued permits directly to private individuals or clubs for building artificial reefs. The local coastal governments who are applicants for new reef sites undergo a rigorous individual permit application process that may span a 6-9 month period.