Artificial reefs are commonly created with the goal of enhancing fish populations in texasnearshore reefs defined as those within state waters 9 NM provide habitat for numeroussportfish species…

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) received a $153,845 Formula Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the State Wildlife Grants Program (CFDA 15.634), awarded January 1, 2026, with a completion date of June 30, 2027. The award funds a comprehensive multigear assessment of the fish community at the Corpus Christi Nearshore Reef (MU775) to evaluate changes in fish populations over a 10-year period since the last standardized monitoring. This project builds on prior research conducted in 2015 and aligns with the Texas Wildlife Action Plan by monitoring species of greatest conservation need, including blacknose shark, Atlantic tarpon, cobia, spinner shark, scalloped hammerhead, great hammerhead, finetooth shark, and greater amberjack.

The project deliverables include conducting fish community surveys using identical monitoring gear from prior studies (small fish traps and vertical line fishing) supplemented by baited stereo camera surveys to estimate seasonal fish community structure and size distributions. TPWD partnered with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as a sub-awardee to execute the technical research components. The assessment results will provide critical data on artificial reef effectiveness as fisheries habitat in Texas state waters and identify monitoring methods and gear biases for future nearshore artificial reef management and conservation decision-making.

Artificial reefs are commonly created with the goal of enhancing fish populations in texasnearshore reefs defined as those within state waters 9 NM provide habitat for numeroussportfish species including several considered species of greatest conservation need sgcnin the state wildlife action plan tpwd 2023 understanding the value of artificial reefs asfisheries habitat has been hindered by limited monitoring and scientific study following reefconstruction the purpose of this study is to conduct a multigear assessment of the fishcommunity at the corpus christi nearshore reef MU775 to determine if and how the fishcommunity has changed in 10 years since the last standardized monitoring was conductedat the reef site this project will build off work completed by PI streich in 2015 to provideinsight into how these nearshore reefs function in texas the planned assessment will useidentical gear used in past monitoring small fish traps and vertical line and add baitedstereo camera surveys to estimate seasonal fish community structure and size distributionswith an emphasis on blacknose shark atlantic tarpon cobia spinner shark scallopedhammerhead great hammerhead finetooth shark and greater amberjack these data willaid the texas artificial reef program by identifying methods and gear biases that may beconsidered for monitoring nearshore artificial reef fish communities and advancing theknowledge base to inform management of these reefs in texas