Texas Parks and Wildlife Artificial Reef Program

08/20/2026

We get some amazing wildlife in the Gulf, including the incredible Giant Manta Ray. Encounters like this are truly special, and we hope future generations of divers and anglers will have the chance to experience them too.

08/16/2026

Rolling into the weekend!

08/16/2026

We recently conducted diver surveys at two reef sites offshore of Sabine Pass —
HI-A-117 Basco's and HI-A-85 S.A.L.T.
We enjoyed good weather while collecting valuable data on reef condition, fish abundance, and overall habitat health. The team was glad to encounter gray and red snappers, along with a large southern stingray gliding across the structure — always a great sign of a thriving reef ecosystem!

08/08/2026

07/24/2026

Repurposed clean concrete materials were used for an additional deployment at the HI-A-54 Deep Reef Site, further enhancing the habitat's structural complexity and creating more opportunities for marine life to thrive.

Projects like this are only possible through strong partnerships, and we're incredibly grateful for the support of our industry partners who share our commitment to building and improving artificial reef habitats.

07/21/2026

Successful deployment of the pyramids and plates at the new HI-A54 Deep site and the established MI-562 reef site! Another great day supporting reef habitat enhancement and monitoring efforts. Looking forward to seeing these structures provide valuable habitat for marine life in the months and years ahead.

07/14/2026

🚁The ArtReef team had the unique opportunity to complete a course in helicopter evacuation this week! This course focused on making sure our team was prepared and safe, so we can confidently be present during the reefing of retired oil and gas structures as they’re transformed into thriving artificial reefs for the program. Excited for this next step in supporting our coastal ecosystems! 🌊🚁

06/29/2026

We’re excited to share progress on our upcoming artificial reef project! 🌊🐟
Support and funding for this effort were made possible through a RESTORE grant funded by a federal financial assistance award from the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
This project will use low- and mid‑relief reef materials, including reef plates and prefabricated pyramids, to create valuable habitat for reef fish—especially juvenile red snapper. 🐠🐟
We plan to deploy approximately 200 reef pyramids at site MI‑562 and 300 additional pyramids at the HI‑54 Deep / Sabine Deep Reef site. HI‑A‑54 Deep is located 13.4 nautical miles from the Sabine Pass Jetties, and deployment is scheduled to occur in the next week or two. Check out the map below! 🌊📍

06/22/2026

Great news! This would be a big win for protecting Texas coastal habitat.

🌊 A stretch of the Texas coast from Sabine Pass to Matagorda Island could soon get national recognition.

A new bill from U.S. Rep. Randy Weber would create the Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area, a 168-mile corridor designed to boost tourism, recreation, conservation, and economic development while keeping land ownership and local control intact. Supporters say it could help preserve the Upper Texas Coast for future generations.