Deployments Begin in New Sabine Nearshore Site

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Artificial Reef Program, Friends of Sabine Reefs, and CCA Texas are excited to announce that the first material deployments into the new HI-54 Shallow site took place on June 27-28, 2024. This recently permitted 20-acre site is located approximately nine miles from the Sabine Pass jetty and 1.9 miles from the coastline in front of Sea Rim State Park. This reef will be a haven for speckled trout, red drum, mackerel, jackfish and sharks. This deployment consisted of concrete culverts, granite blocks, and old oil rig structure pieces. This new site provides an easily accessible area for recreational fishermen in the Upper Coast area.

“Since 2018 when Friends of the Sabine Pass Reefs was created using the Friends of the Rio Grande Valley Reef as our model, we have been able to create two artificial reefs, HI-20 and HI-54 Shallow,” commented Friends of Sabine Pass Reefs representative Mic Cowart. Cowart continued, “Our first experience with HI-20 was no doubt one with a lot of growing pains but, with the collaboration of groups including Friends of Sabine Pass Reefs, CCA Texas, TPWD Artificial Reef Program, Laredo Construction and others that came together for the HI-54 Shallow deployment, I think we have assembled a team that has the expertise, assets, and most importantly a passion for creating and sustaining marine ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico. With this team, the future of artificial reef development is unlimited!”

With the first deployment into HI-54 Shallow complete, plans are in the works for the next deployment in late summer of this year. Tentative plans are being discussed to deploy an additional 5,000 tons of rip-rap rock to the reef site. Additionally, another new site, HI-54 Deep, is currently in the planning stages with hopes of being permitted some time in 2025. This new site will be in approximately 45’ of water and will be 24 miles from the Sabine Pass jetty and 9 miles offshore.

A major part of the success enjoyed by Friends of Sabine Pass Reefs and Friends of RGV Reef has been their ability to gather support in their local communities. Friends of Sabine Pass Reefs and CCA Texas are extremely thankful for the support of local industry which includes Cheniere Energy, Port Arthur LNG (Sempra), Valero, Motiva, and Golden Pass LNG. Other partners and supporting organizations from the past and present include Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Artificial Reef Program, CCA Texas, Building Conservation Trust, Sabine Pass Port Authority and Eldridge Construction. The Sabine Pass Reefs initiative has exemplified success based on strong grassroots efforts and community support.

When CCA Texas became involved in Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Artificial Reefing Program, the vision was to be a part of an effort to ensure that recreational anglers had the opportunity to fish nearshore habitat out of every port in Texas. To date, CCA Texas has committed more than $3,990,000 to nearshore reefing efforts through the support of local chapter banquets, community industries, and private donors since 2009, and has been a part of nearshore reefing efforts out of every port in Texas from South Padre Island to Sabine Pass.

For more information about the Texas Parks and Wildlife Artificial Reef Program, please be sure to visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/water/habitats/artificial_reef/ and click on the Nearshore Reefing tab.