Kelly Brothers (KBI) has been awarded a project for the creation of an artificial reef at the Captain Jeff Steele Memorial Reef Site as part of Charlotte County’s Artificial Reef Program. KBI will use our company-owned barge and crane to complete the deployment of the concrete reef materials.
Within hours of sinking a concrete reef, small baitfish begin to move in. This begins the resettlement of a variety of marine life over the next few months. The concrete structure will slowly be populated by such aquatic life as soft corals, sponges, plants, and barnacles. Soon after snapper and grouper take residence and nearby sand sediments come to life with sea stars, sand dollars, and other invertebrate species.
The intentional placement of the concrete materials on the gulf’s floor to creates an artificial reef habitat, which becomes home to an diverse assortment of marine life thus creating a popular destinations for divers, snorkelers, and fishermen.