Coastal Conservation Association’s REEF Louisiana Program completed construction recently on two new artificial reefs south of Grand Isle, at Grand Isle Block 47 and West Delta Block 35. Both projects were built on sites where oil and gas platforms have been recently removed.

Along with conservation partners Chevron, CCA’s Building Conservation Trust, Romeo Papa Boats and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, CCA deployed 45 “fish houses” in each location. In addition, another 60 large recycled concrete columns (donated by Beton Concrete Solutions) were deployed in each location. The site at West Delta 35 is in roughly 65 feet of water. The new Grand Isle 47 site is in roughly 100 feet of water. Each reef was designed to optimize water and bottom conditions, and to create “fish havens” over multiple acres. The “fish houses” (provided by E & L Construction Group), are 6ft x 6ft and were placed in a large grid arrangement centered on the old locations of the removed structures. Each individual structure will create bottom relief and should establish its own feeding halo, providing excellent habitat for a wide variety of marine species.

CCA Louisiana VP of Habitat John Walther was on hand for the construction, and explained how these projects came about.

“A few years ago, CCA’s REEF Louisiana Program identified more than 900 sites across the Louisiana coast where oil and gas structures have been removed, or are scheduled to be removed,” said Walther. “West Delta 35 and Grand Isle 47 were chosen from that list by CCA chapter members as priority sites, so we began the process of permitting and planning for reef construction with Wildlife and Fisheries. Thankfully, partners like Chevron and Romeo Papa Boats stepped up to help, and here we are today with two more completed reefs.”

Walther says he expects each site to hold fish in the near future.

“Our research shows that these structures often begin supporting marine life within days of deployment,” he said. “I would not be at all surprised to find species like red snapper, mangrove snapper, cobia and grouper on these structures later this spring.”

These two projects make a total of 10 successful reef partnerships between Chevron and CCA since 2017. Leah Brown, Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico Public Affairs Manager, explained how important projects like these are.

“With the addition of these two initiatives, Chevron and CCA will have worked together on a total of ten reef projects since 2017,” said Brown. “Like our previous collaborations, these two reefs will help conserve the coast and support the fish and wildlife that call it home. Chevron’s contributions are part of our commitment to Louisiana’s coast and coastal communities. We’re proud of our long-standing partnership with CCA and thank them for their efforts.”