In 2021, New Jersey deployed 400 donated gravestones at Barnegat Light Reef; 60 tons of material now provide habitat for fish and lobsters

In May 2021, the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife added to the state's artificial reef network by deploying donated gravestones and mixed concrete rubble on the Barnegat Light Reef site. Its Bureau of Marine Fisheries staff carried out the work with help from the Department of Environmental Protection's Aids to Navigation Team. The material, an estimated 400 gravestones, together with mixed concrete rubble, weighing approximately 60 tons in total, was donated by two monument companies. The Fisherman, which reported on the deployment on 21 June 2021, noted that it followed earlier reef work at Little Egg and Manasquan.What was deployed at Barnegat Light Reef in 2021According to the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife, Bureau of Marine Fisheries staff expanded the State's artificial reef network in May 2021 with deployments on the Barnegat Light Reef site. The Division's account, dated 28 May 2021, states that the Reef Program deployed an estimated 400 gravestones, together with mixed concrete rubble, weighing approximately 60 tons in total.The Fisherman reported the same deployment on 21 June 2021. According to the publication, the work took place "back in May" and was carried out by the Division and its Bureau of Marine Fisheries staff. It added that the Reef Program completed the deployment with the help of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and its Aids to Navigation.Who donated the gravestones to New Jersey’s artificial reef programThe material was donated to the NJ Artificial Reef Program. According to the Division, the donors were Schick Monuments of Millville and South Jersey Monuments of Vineland. The Fisherman gives the same two names and the same towns.The Division's page includes a photograph of the monuments on board the vessel used for the deployment. The material consisted of gravestones and mixed concrete rubble: 400 gravestones, together with mixed concrete rubble weighing approximately 60 tons in total.What are the coordinates of the Barnegat Light Reef siteThis series of deployments is now resting at the coordinates 39° 45.32 / 074° 01.60 on the Barnegat Light Reef site. The Fisherman repeats the same position in its report. The Division says the deployment was made with the help of the Department of Environmental Protection's Aids to Navigation Team.The Fisherman placed the Barnegat Light work in the context of the year's reef activity. According to the publication, the Division and its Bureau of Marine Fisheries staff had made earlier deployments that year at the Little Egg and Manasquan reef sites. The Barnegat Light deployment followed those, adding to the State's artificial reef network.What are artificial reefs typically made ofAccording to the Division, artificial reefs are typically made up of concrete, steel, and decommissioned metal ships and barges. It states that they provide habitat for "a variety of marine life", naming black sea bass, tautog and lobster as examples. The Division adds that reefs offer opportunities for recreational anglers and divers. The Fisherman, citing the Division, repeats this description, saying reefs provide habitat for a variety of marine life, fishing grounds for anglers and underwater structures for scuba divers.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.