The south carolina department of natural resources will use funds from this award to compare fish populations on artificial and natural reefs to compare the differences in fish communities and…

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources received $133,373 in funding under the State Wildlife Grants Program (CFDA 15.634), administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI Fish and Wildlife Service Region 4), with an award date of October 1, 2025, and completion deadline of September 30, 2026. Under this formula grant, SCDNR will conduct a comparative analysis of fish populations inhabiting artificial and natural reefs throughout South Carolina waters. The project will evaluate differences in fish communities between these two reef types and assess the conservation and fisheries value of artificial reef investments relative to naturally occurring reef systems.

This research initiative aligns with the State Wildlife Grants Program's mandate to support strategic, proactive conservation programs benefiting species of greatest conservation need identified in South Carolina's Wildlife Action Plan. The deliverables will provide data-driven insights to inform fisheries management decisions and guide future reef development and conservation investments by the state agency.

The south carolina department of natural resources will use funds from this award to compare fish populations on artificial and natural reefs to compare the differences in fish communities and evaluate the value of artificial reef investment relative to natural reefs for supporting fisheries.