Shearwater Artificial Reef

The Shearwater was sunk onto the Del-Jersey-Land Reef on Dec. 11, 2015.

Shearwater was sunk at approximate coordinates of 38 deg. 31.200’ N Latitude and 074 deg. 30.800’W Longitude, approximately 26 nautical miles southeast of Indian River Inlet.

The 165 foot vessel sank in 120 feet of water about one-half nautical mile from the 568-foot ex-destroyer USS Arthur W. Radford.

Prior to sinking, the vessel had served the Army and Navy before becoming a civilian ship. Shearwater had ended its working life in 2012 as a menhaden boat out of Reedville, Va.

The Del-Jersey-Land Reef, also known as Delaware Reef Site 13, is one of numerous artificial reef sites established by DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife.

Delaware has 14 permitted artificial reef sites in the Delaware Bay and coastal waters, with five of the sites located in federal (ocean) waters.

source: DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife

Reef Fish Amendment 28 Public Hearings

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has scheduled a series of public hearings around the Gulf of Mexico beginning Monday, March 10, 2014 through Monday, March 24, 2014.

The purpose of the meetings is to solicit public comment on Reef Fish Amendment 28 - Red Snapper Allocation. All meetings will begin at 6:00 pm. local time and will conclude no later than 9 p.m. Note, the call in session will begin at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Amendment 28 examines allocating red snapper resources between the commercial and recreational sectors to increase the net benefits from red snapper fishing and improve the stability of the red snapper component of the reef fish fishery, particularly for the recreational sector.

Comments on Reef Fish Amendment 28 will also be accepted online. Meeting locations and copies of the public hearing documents can be obtained by calling 813-348-1630, or by visiting www.gulfcouncil.org.

source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council