Why is artificial Reefing a good use of surplus naval vessels?
Although other alternatives are also used to reduce the Navy’s inventory of inactive ships that have been stricken from the Naval Vessel Register, artificial reefing has many benefits. These benefits include enhancing ecological resources by increasing the amount of productive hard-bottom habitat, using artificial reefs as marine protected and conservation areas, or using artificial reefs to provide alternative reefs for recreational fishing and diving so that natural reefs can be protected and conserved. Artificial reefs can also provide economic benefits to local communities by increasing tourism and commercial activities associated with fishing and diving on the reef.
