“As fishermen, we have to be environmentalists” says Captain Monty. By creating artificial reefs he and the OCRF team are “not attracting marine life, but increasing marine productivity by giving them a better habitat.” Even though the OCRF’s main focus is the Mid Atlantic, they can be found helping with artificial reef and oyster restoration on the Bay as well. “We have to make some changes in the way we treat the water, or we are going to lose it,” says Monty.
For more information on the Ocean City Reef Foundation or to contribute to their efforts, please visit their website ocreefs.org.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 - 10:00
When it comes to sustainable fishing, you could call Captain Monty Hawkins of Morning Star Charters a real pro. If he’s not on his boat taking people fishing, he can be found working on his reef-building process. Captain Monty heads up the Ocean City Reef Foundation, a non-profit organization that is “committed to the enhancement of our local marine habitat through the creation and monitoring of artificial reef systems.”
Building a reef is 50-percent human work and 50-percent nature. Monty and his crew of volunteers build structures using manmade materials and then sink them off of the coast. “Fouling animals such as barnacles, mussels, sponges, and coral use the new material as a foundation to create a living reef which is no different than other so-called natural reefs. These in turn host populations of fish, lobsters, crabs, and shrimp that feed on the reef and are food for other critters,” Hawkins states on the OCRF website.
Not only do reefs create a marine habitat, but they can stimulate economic growth as well. “Improved fisheries and additional diving opportunities will increase the eco-tourism draw and will continue to grow with proper promotion to the fishing and diving communities,” says Captain Monty.
“As fishermen, we have to be environmentalists” says Captain Monty. By creating artificial reefs he and the OCRF team are “not attracting marine life, but increasing marine productivity by giving them a better habitat.” Even though the OCRF’s main focus is the Mid Atlantic, they can be found helping with artificial reef and oyster restoration on the Bay as well. “We have to make some changes in the way we treat the water, or we are going to lose it,” says Monty.
For more information on the Ocean City Reef Foundation or to contribute to their efforts, please visit their website ocreefs.org.
“As fishermen, we have to be environmentalists” says Captain Monty. By creating artificial reefs he and the OCRF team are “not attracting marine life, but increasing marine productivity by giving them a better habitat.” Even though the OCRF’s main focus is the Mid Atlantic, they can be found helping with artificial reef and oyster restoration on the Bay as well. “We have to make some changes in the way we treat the water, or we are going to lose it,” says Monty.
For more information on the Ocean City Reef Foundation or to contribute to their efforts, please visit their website ocreefs.org.