Imagine diving beneath the waves and discovering a thriving underwater oasis—a reef teeming with fish, swaying kelp, and vibrant marine life. While natural reefs have long been the backbone of ocean ecosystems, California is now working to create artificial reefs that mimic these vital habitats, supporting biodiversity, coastal resilience, and sustainable recreation. The California Artificial Reef Program (CARP) Plan aims to establish a consistent, science-based framework for designing, selecting materials for, and siting artificial reef projects along the state’s coast.

Purpose of the CARP Plan

Artificial reefs, defined by California law as structures placed in the marine environment to support fish, invertebrate populations, and kelp growth, play a key role in aquatic habitat restoration, biodiversity enhancement, coastal resilience, and recreational opportunities such as fishing and diving. The CARP Plan aims to provide guidelines to standardize artificial reef projects, ensuring they are well-designed, environmentally beneficial, and efficiently permitted.

Types of artificial reef projects covered by the CARP Plan include:

Ecosystem restoration and biodiversity support (e.g., enhancing native oyster and kelp habitats)
Recreational use, such as improving fishing and diving opportunities
Coastal resilience efforts, including shoreline protection and habitat creation
Compensatory mitigation, which offsets environmental impacts from other development projects

The CARP Plan will create an evidence-based framework that maximizes ecological benefits while minimizing potential risks by incorporating input from scientists, stakeholders, and Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK).

Public Input: Listening Sessions and Stakeholder Engagement

The CARP Plan development process includes multiple public listening sessions to gather feedback from key stakeholders, including scientists, policymakers, conservation groups, and coastal communities.

Upcoming public listening sessions include:

These sessions provide opportunities for interested parties to learn about the CARP Plan, ask questions, and provide input on critical components. Future discussions will also involve technical writing groups of scientific experts and Indigenous knowledge holders, ensuring the final plan is comprehensive and inclusive.

Timeline and Next Steps

The CARP Plan is being developed in multiple phases, with technical writing groups beginning their work in the Spring of 2025. A midway feedback session will allow stakeholders to review and refine initial recommendations. By Summer 2026, the draft plan will undergo peer review and a public comment period, followed by a formal adoption process through the California Fish and Game Commission. Once finalized, the CARP Plan will serve as a key guiding document for artificial reef projects statewide, streamlining permitting while promoting sustainable marine habitat enhancement.

Get Involved

For more information or to dive deeper into the conversation, contact ArtificialReefs@wildlife.ca.gov or call (831) 682-9249.

California’s coastal waters are more than just a vast blue expanse—they are living, breathing ecosystems home to dancing kelp forests, bustling fish populations, and intricate coral-like structures that support marine life. But as these natural habitats face growing challenges, the state is taking proactive steps to restore, enhance, and reimagine the ocean floor. Through initiatives like the CARP Plan, California is carefully designing new underwater landscapes—artificial reefs that will serve as safe havens for marine species, fortresses against coastal erosion, and vibrant destinations for divers and anglers alike. By shaping the future of our ocean environment today, we ensure that these underwater worlds continue to thrive for generations to come.

Beneath the Waves: Crafting California’s Future Reefs