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Artificial Reefs

Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative (MARI) logo, featuring a blue diamond design with a fish icon and geometric reef elements. MARI supports the creation and maintenance of artificial reefs to enhance marine habitats, promote sustainable fishing, and improve aquatic ecosystems in Maryland waters.
Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative (MARI) logo, representing efforts to enhance marine habitats through artificial reef projects. MARI promotes sustainable fishing, improves aquatic ecosystems, and supports marine biodiversity in Maryland waters.

Maryland has artificial reef sites in both bay and ocean waters. These are collaborative projects between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the partner organizations of the Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative, and the Ocean City Reef Foundation.

The Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative is a volunteer organization including more than 60 private, state, and federal partners dedicated to preserving, restoring and creating fish habitat in tidewater Maryland. It acts as a funding mechanism under an agreement with the Coastal Conservation Association Maryland using private and corporate donations for reef development.

The Ocean City Reef Foundation works to build reefs off of Ocean City and, in partnership with The Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative, accepts donations as a non-profit 501(c)(3).

For more details on artificial reef projects, including the Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative and The Ocean City Reef Foundation reef coordinates, visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Reefs page.

Satellite map of Maryland waters showing artificial reef locations managed by the Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative (MARI). Each marked site represents a designated reef area aimed at enhancing marine habitats, promoting sustainable fishing, and supporting aquatic biodiversity in the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters.
Map of Maryland’s artificial reef sites managed by the Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative (MARI). These strategically placed reef locations enhance marine habitats, support sustainable fishing, and promote aquatic biodiversity in the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding waters.
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