Illegal massive reef in GoM

Shrimp boat captain Grant Erickson and his crew were among a dozen divers and boaters assisting Florida Gulf Coast University's Vester Field Marine Station in the removal of a massive illegal reef about 10 miles off Bonita Beach, Fla., in the Gulf of Mexico. "It's about $20,000 worth of gear," said Erickson, who owns 12 shrimp boats that run across the GoM from Florida to Texas. Feb. 3’s work included multiple dives to determine here the reef, nets and fishing gear was located in about 40 feet of water. The Lee County Sheriff's Office and Vester divers descended to the illegal reef made up of piles of concrete poles that were about 18-inches wide and 20-feet long. The illegal reef is not marked on any boating charts. Local fishermen at the reef said they have been fishing it for about four years, but it's nearly impossible to identify who dumped concrete in the GoM. "It's an environmental concern and you don't want any divers getting caught in it," said county dive leader Jeremiah Marcotte, "and sea turtle nesting season is coming up, and they're endangered." The reef will soon be marked on navigational charts and named after the Vester Marine Field Station. (Source: USA TODAY 02/04/17) Gulf Coast Note: All five states with borders to the Gulf of Mexico have artificial reef programs. A review of those programs can be found at http://www.nwf.org/~/media/PDFs/Water/Review-of-GoM-Artificial-Reefs-Report.pdf.