Artificial reef installation starts off the Tweed Coast

The installation of the $1 million offshore artificial reefs will create a new home for local fish and aquatic organisms

Construction of the base of a steel artificial reef

Sep 4, Environment: The state-of-the-art reef is located around 7.5kms south-east of the Tweed Heads river entrance, between Cook Island and Kingscliff. It is approximately 2.5 kilometres off the coast of Wommin Bay at a depth of 25 metres.

Once completed, local recreational fishers will benefit from the range of sportfishing and tropical species living in the reef. This will include: 

• kingfish

• cobia

• snapper

• mulloway

• mackerel

• giant trevally

• mangrove jack.

The Fish Grotto, a steel structure over 10 metres tall, will form the foundation of the 834-tonne underwater habitat.

Offshore artificial reefs have been scientifically studied and shown to be up to four times greater compared to natural temperate reefs.

There are currently seven artificial reefs in NSW, including Sydney, Wollongong, Port Macquarie and Merimbula. By 2022, two more artificial reefs will be installed in Batemans Bay and Jervis Bay.