Reef Installation Begins Off Dauphin Island

DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. — Eagle Scout candidate John Shell has launched and installed the first of 100 artificial reefs to be deployed across the Alabama coast, The Eagle Reef Project announced. It was installed at the dock of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab with the aid of Alabama Department of Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship, University of South Alabama Chair of Marine Sciences Dr. Sean Powers and others. Once loaded with sea life, the reef will filter and clean 1.1 million gallons of water per year. Additionally, 500 fish and crabs are expected to cultivate around it, and it will be studied by students at the sea lab. The reefs will be installed in Mobile Bay, Dauphin Island, Orange Beach and Perdido Bay.