PEP, USA Partner With The Eagle Reef

Mobile-based nonprofit Partners for Environmental Progress (PEP) and the University of South Alabama (USA) Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences have announced a partnership with The Eagle Reef, an Eagle Scout project initiated by John Shell of Troop 147 in Mobile. The Eagle Reef Project provides pre-assembled miniature reefs that will be used as an ecologically friendly solution to restore and revitalize marine and coastal ecosystems across coastal Alabama. Shell’s inspiration for the project stems from the loss of natural oyster and grass beds, which is contributing to the reduction of fish species and habitats. The project has gained widespread attention, providing an opportunity for state leaders and elected officials to discuss solutions for cleaning up Alabama’s coastal waters and revitalizing marine ecosystems. PEP and USA are expanding the project from the already-deployed 175 to 1,000 reefs, which will filter up to 10 billion gallons of water annually and create habitats for up to 500,000 fish and crabs per year in Alabama’s coastal waters. The university will assist in location identification, deployment, stocking, maintaining and monitoring the reefs for the project, in addition to testing the waters surrounding them. The reefs will be installed under the wharves and docks of private individuals, marinas, restaurants and other structures in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Each can filter up to 30,000 gallons of water per day and 10 million gallons annually. Reefs are available for businesses, nonprofits and individuals to purchase, or they may be adopted through donations.