Reference page · Updated November 10, 2026
Reliable figures on artificial reefs, gathered from public agencies and peer-reviewed research. Every statistic below links to its original source and date.
A practical reference
Artificial reefs are planned structures, not a shortcut or a substitute for natural ecosystems. Their scale, location, materials, monitoring, and intended use all matter. This page brings together a focused set of figures for writers, researchers, educators, and coastal communities seeking a clear starting point.
Reefs For Oceans supports the next limestone habitat phase at the Poseidon Memorial Reef off Destin, Florida. That local work is why this page centers Florida’s public reef record alongside the broader U.S. picture.
The figures
Use the stable links below to cite an individual figure directly.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported more than 4,442 statewide deployment locations through May 1, 2025. A location can represent a uniquely located reef or separate deployments of the same reef on different days.
Source: FWC Artificial Reef Locations in Florida, May 2025FWC’s statewide artificial-reef dataset spans 34 of Florida’s 35 coastal counties and 1,357 miles of ocean-facing coastline, as described in its May 2025 data notes.
Source: FWC Artificial Reef Locations in Florida, May 2025The same May 2025 FWC dataset reports a depth range from 1 foot to 511 feet, with an average depth of 68 feet across its artificial-reef deployment locations.
Source: FWC Artificial Reef Locations in Florida, May 2025Since the 1940s, more than 4,548 planned public artificial reefs have been placed in state and federal waters off Florida’s coast, according to FWC’s Artificial Reef Program page accessed November 10, 2026.
Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, accessed November 10, 2026A 2024 national synthesis found that purposely sunk artificial reef structures occupied 19.23 square kilometers of U.S. ocean through 2020.
Source: Nature Sustainability, 2024, via NOAA RepositoryThe same 2024 study calculated a 20.85-fold increase in the intentional artificial-reef footprint over five decades, while growth from 2010 to 2020 was 1.12-fold.
Source: Nature Sustainability, 2024, via NOAA RepositoryResearchers assembled spatial data from all 17 U.S. coastal states and territories with ocean artificial-reef programs for the 2024 national footprint study.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 2024A 2014 statewide socioeconomic analysis, cited by FWC, reported $3.1 billion in economic output, 39,118 Florida jobs, and $250 million in state revenue from fishing and diving activity on Florida artificial reefs.
Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2018 plan citing a 2014 analysisReading the data carefully
Counts can differ because agencies track different things. A deployment location is not always the same as a single reef, and a current program total does not necessarily use the same definition as a historical dataset. Each figure on this page preserves the source’s own scope and date rather than forcing unlike measures together.
Artificial reefs also serve different purposes. FWC describes planned sites as supporting recreation, research, and structural habitat for reef-associated species. Outcomes depend on thoughtful siting, permitted materials, and continued monitoring.
Read: What is an artificial reef?Methodology and sources
This is a selective reference page, not a census of every reef program. Figures are included only when a named public agency or peer-reviewed study provides a clear number and date. Florida program figures come from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. National footprint figures come from a 2024 study published in Nature Sustainability and archived by NOAA.
We will review the page roughly monthly and sooner if a core source publishes a newer figure. Individual anchors stay in place so citations to a specific statistic remain useful over time.
Cite this page
Suggested citation: Reefs For Oceans. “Artificial Reef Statistics: Florida & U.S. Facts.” Updated November 10, 2026. https://reefsforoceans.org/artificial-reef-statistics
For the clearest attribution, link to the individual statistic anchor and to the original source shown with it.
From evidence to action
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