Fishing Boats And Rail Cars: It's What Artificial Reefs Are Made Of

Just off the coast of Georgetown, SC, a retired 65-foot fishing boat was recently sunk 50 feet underwater, where it joins a barge and nearly two dozen Army vehicles. Off the coast of Charleston, a short distance to the south, eight concrete towers of various heights have been installed on the sea floor.

Don’t confuse these with some sort of bizarre art project — they represent artificial reefs that are designed to bolster fish habitat and help prevent coastal erosion while recycling materials that would otherwise be sent to landfills.