Bayview Artificial Reef Improvement Project – AR 291

In May, 2022, a 3-D printed artificial reef, designed to provide a thriving habitat for fish and other marine life, was submerged in the brackish water of the Pamlico River near Bayview, N.C. Eight years in the making, the joint effort, led by the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina (CCA NC) together with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), represented a milestone in the use of adaptive infrastructure technology developed by Raleigh-based Natrx, a global leader in the emerging field of nature-based adaptive infrastructure. The concrete reef modules used were designed and produced specifically for the local climate and river habitat. 100 reef cubes, each measuring 3’ by 3’ and weighing roughly 1,850 pounds, were transported by barge and deployed at the Bayview Artificial Reef site (AR-291), located approximately 100 yards off the shoreline near the mouth of Bath Creek. Original efforts to establish an artificial reef on the site were made in 2012 and 2013 using concrete reef balls and pipe. Since 2014, led by the efforts of chairman emeritus Billy Byrd, CCA NC has been instrumental in planning and fundraising to improve the Bayview Reef. Natrx was brought on board in 2021, and with help from DMF Artificial Reef Coordinator Jordan Byrum, a proposal to deploy the new 3-D printed reef modules was approved. The reef has long been a popular spot for local anglers and these improvements will help ensure the site endures for future generations of anglers to enjoy. Financial supporters included BCT, Grady-White Boats, Toadfish Outfitters, and Nutrien.