Lee County to get new artificial reef offshore

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (AP) -- An artificial reef will be sunk 30 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.

The News-Press (http://newspr.es/QBKqou) reports that on Monday, Lee County's Marine Services Program and Reefmakers LLC -- a Key West company that specializes in sinking ships as artificial reefs -- is scheduled to scuttle the 165-foot World War II Coast Guard cutter Mohawk in 90 feet of water.

Because the sea floor off Lee County is barren sand, the county has deployed artificial reefs to provide habitat for fish and invertebrates. According to the county more than 150 fish species have been documented on the reefs.

Lee County has 20 permitted artificial reef sites.

A 2010 University of Florida study showed Lee county's artificial reefs had an economic impact in 2009 of $104.2 million.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)