New Jersey Sinks 55-Foot Trawler To Expand Marine Habitat Off Manasquan Inlet

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Fish & Wildlife Artificial Reef Program sank a 55-foot steel trawler at the Manasquan Inlet Reef site in October. The C. Ann went down. This retired commercial fishing boat was cleaned, then sent to the bottom on purpose to create more habitat at one of the state's newer artificial reef spots.

Workers stripped the vessel's deck equipment and rigging. They pulled out pollutants and dangerous materials before dropping it to meet state and federal rules. The boat now sits at a depth of about 75 feet at coordinates 40°04'23.4″N, 73°58'51.8″W.

The Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association, Bill Cleary of Brielle, and Depth Charge Marine made donations that funded the project. Money from private citizens and groups keeps the program running, since it depends on partnerships to pay for prep work, hauling, and placing materials on the ocean floor.

This marks the ninth drop at the Manasquan Inlet Reef within the state's broader artificial reef network. The site lies 1.7 nautical miles southeast of the inlet, which sits just north of Ocean County's Point Pleasant Beach.

Steel vessels and other hard materials give structure to the seafloor once they go under. Fish need places to hide and eat. These structures do that.

The C. Ann is expected to become home for more than 150 species of sea creatures. Black sea bass, tautog, summer flounder, lobsters, crabs, and mussels will use the sunken trawler, according to NJDEP Fish & Wildlife.

Artificial reefs boost local ecosystems while giving anglers and divers more places to go along the coast. They pack marine life into areas where natural hard-bottom habitat is scarce or missing, according to NJDEP Fish & Wildlife.