DELAWARE - A sunken ship is being turned into aquatic treasure in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Sussex County.
DNREC says they sunk the Calcasieu Pass, a retired offshore oilfield supply ship turned menhaden-processing ship, to turn it into an artificial reef. The ship will create more valuable marine habitat, attracting a variety of reef-associated fish and invertebrates, according to DNREC officials.
They say their Division of Fish and Wildlife invested $285,000 in federal Sport Fish Restoration funds to buy and reef the ship.
"The addition of this vessel to our reef system continues DNREC's commitment to improving marine habitat while giving retired maritime vessels a new purpose beneath the waves," says DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson. "The artificial reef system is a driver for Delaware's coastal and conservation economies and carries out the Department's mission of conserving and sustaining our natural resources."
The 1982 ship is 180 feet long, with a 40-foot beam, and will also provide angling and diving opportunities for outdoor recreationalists.
DNREC says the Calcasieu Pass was sunk after receiving approval form the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard for environmental cleanliness and safety. They add before a vessel is turned into a reef, it must undergo extensive preparation to ensure suitable use.
There are 14 DNREC artificial reef sites in the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean. The program started in 1995, and the reefs attract tautog, black sea bass, triggerfish, scup and spadefish, and other natural predators attracted to the baitfish that congregate around reef structure. To see an online map with the artificial reef locations, click here.
