An artificial reef may be described as one or more objects of
natural or human origin deployed purposefully on the seafloor to
influence physical, biological, or socioeconomic processes
related to living marine organisms. The more than 2,400
carefully planned artificial reefs constructed in state and
adjacent federal waters off both Florida coasts have been built
to provide recreational fishing and diving enhancement, a socio-
economic benefit to adjacent coastal communities, and to
increase structural habitat for reef associated or reef
dependent fishes and invertebrates. Catch and Release Managers
of Florida's fisheries use a combination of traditional measures
to control harvests and protect fish stocks. These measures
include bag limits; minimum and maximum sizes; closed seasons
and areas; and in some cases, no harvest is allowed unless a
special permit is purchased. Bag limits reduce the number of
fish that are harvested and allocate the catch over time so that
the year's total harvest is not taken in one