feel recreational anglers are the big winners. 



But the biggest worry is the prospect of added regulations to 

 an already heavily regulated industry. Should artificial reef sites 

 ever become "no-take" zones, it would seriously decrease the 

 state's fishing area, the article says. 



The group questions whether science supports assumptions 

 about the benefits of artificial reefs. 



Jerry Schill, NCFA president, served on the South Atlantic 

 Fishery Management Council from 1989 until 1995. He says, "I 

 have heard 'experts' questioning how much biological benefit 

 artificial reefs offer. There are many in the environmental or 

 biological arena that suggest artificial reefs offer no real produc- 

 tion benefits, but rather only offer a place for fish to aggregate." 



The worst-case scenario, he says, would be if future 

 regulations make artificial reefs off-limits to commercial gear 

 users — but open to recreational hook-and-line anglers. This 

 would eliminate all benefits of the reef program to the commercial 

 fishing industry. 



Francesconi doesn't have immediate answers for the 

 commercial fishing group or recreational anglers. DMF scientists 

 are collecting data for a five-year, state and federally funded 

 study. "Using hook-and-line fishing techniques, we are looking at 

 species composition and relative productivity of reefs in shallow, 

 mid- and deep ocean waters," he says. They also dive to conduct 

 fish counts and to determine spawning activity. 



Francesconi says they also have devised a 

 material suitability index to compare ability to attract, 

 stability, durability, cost, safety and ease of deploy- 

 ment. 



Until all the results are in, he assures all sides of 

 the issue that DMF is vigilant in its responsibility to 

 monitor and maintain buoy and artificial reef sites 

 using available high-tech equipment and diving 

 observation. 



DECISION TIME 



Meanwhile, back at Berth 8, it's decision time. 



Loading the reef balls has taken longer than 

 anticipated. It's already past noon. The captain of the 

 landing craft is getting an updated weather report. 

 Wind is picking up off the southern coast. 

 Francesconi decides to go with Plan B. The landing 

 craft will move down the river and be in place to 

 move out into the open ocean by 6 a.m. tomorrow. 



But today won't be a wash. 



We board the DMF R/V Artificial Reef 'with 

 Francesconi, Craig Hardy and Chris Jensen, and head 

 out to AR-372. Francesconi wants to sweep the ocean 

 bottom. No material may be placed on live bottom. 

 It's tedious work. Using side-scan sonar equipment, 



they slowly sweep the half-mile site making concentric circles 

 around the buoy. 



The yellow torpedo-shaped instrument, known as the "tow 

 fish," is pulled behind the boat and emits waves to "see" what's on 

 the bottom. Images are sent to a monitor on board — and stored on 

 a file to evaluate later at the DMF labs in Morehead City. 



Francesconi will be able to compare subsequent scanning 

 images with baseline data to determine how reef material is 

 functioning. 



The wind and waves are building. Three hours pass. 

 Francesconi is satisfied. The ocean floor beneath Buoy 372 is 

 lifeless. Images confirm its geologic composition of sand over 

 limestone. Tomorrow's deployment is a "go." 



The team gathers at dawn for another nonstop day — minus 

 the Coastwatch writer, who opts for land duty and a visit with 

 Long Bay's Dale McDowell. 



Five miles off shore, all goes according to plan. By mid-day, 

 the Wrightsville Beach King Mackerel Tournament reef balls are 

 in place in various quadrants of AR-372, much to the Merritts' 

 delight. 



The work is not over for the DMF crew. They'll complete 

 nearby buoy maintenance and double back to the state port to begin 

 preparations for the Long Bay deployment. 



All in a day's work, Francesconi says. □ 



Jim Francesconi prepares to lower the 'tow fish' into waters off Wrightsville Beach. 

 The side-scan sonar device will transmit a view of the ocean floor of AR-372. 



COASTWATCH 11 



