NSW’s newest offshore artificial reef is being deployed in 25 metres of water 7.5 kilometres south-east of the Tweed Heads river entrance.
The reef consists of a massive 10 metre-high steel “fish grotto” which forms the centrepiece of the new structure. A total of 32 concrete modules, each standing 5 metres tall, will surround the “fish grotto”.
This new reef – which joins other reefs already deployed at Sydney, the Shoalhaven, Port Macquarie, southern Sydney, Merimbula, Newcastle and Wollongong – is designed to increase fishing opportunities for recreational fishers.
The Tweed artificial reef weighs in at 834 tonnes and has been carefully designed to provide generations of local and visiting anglers with enhanced opportunities to target a range of key species including snapper, mackerel, cobia, pearl perch and mulloway. Given the reef’s location in sub-tropical Tweed Heads, NSW DPI says it will likely also attract seasonal visitation from northern species including mangrove jack, big eye trevally and various emperors.
The project is funded by NSW recreational angler licence fees.
