About the Long Island Artificial Reef Society
Dedicated to building affordable, durable housing for marine life around Long Island through science-backed patch reef deployments.
Restoring New York Seafloor Habitats
The Long Island Artificial Reef Society is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created in 2021 as the former Governor’s Reef Initiative was winding down. At that time, private donors, marine operators, and maritime companies had virtually no dedicated pipeline or framework to donate materials or vessels for reef construction, as the State possessed an austere budget for its Artificial Reef Program.
Our Society is driven by public contributions, philanthropic grants, and corporate sponsorships. We are firmly committed to the enhancement and long-term ecological restoration of New York’s seafloor through the strategic deployment of verified reef substrates, followed by rigorous post-deployment monitoring.
The Long Island Artificial Reef Society depends entirely on donations and civic partnerships to continue constructing vital patch reefs across the ocean floor around Long Island.
Ecosystem Colonization
How our substrate deployments transform barren sand into productive marine nurseries:
Immediate Encrustation
Growth begins within weeks. Mussels, hydroids, bryozoans, and macroalgae anchor directly to the clean substrate.
Coral & Invertebrate Anchorage
Over months, Northern Star Coral (Astrangia poculata) and sponge colonies develop, creating microscopic trophic complexity.
Full Trophic Equilibrium
Within a few short years, high-relief shelter fosters black sea bass, tautog, flounder, crabs, and shrimp—creating a permanent living reef.
Our Dedicated Sponsors & Community Logistics
The Long Island Artificial Reef Society relies heavily on sponsors not only for raw building materials, but to assist, facilitate, and underwrite our core operational activities. Our partners provide:
Vessel Preparation Yards
Furnishing drydock and bulkhead space to decontaminate, scrub fuel residues, and strip vessels for DEC-compliant reefing.
Staging & Storage Land
Providing industrial acreage to stockpile precast concrete forms, Reef Balls®, and bridge spans prior to crane deployment.
Tug & Barge Deployment
Partnering in the significant expense of maritime towing, heavy-lift floating cranes, and marine salvage operations.
Interested in Becoming a Logistics Sponsor?
Learn how your shipyard, towing fleet, or storage yard can partner with us.