Division of Marine Fisheries Continues to Remove Tires from Beach
MOREHEAD CITY – Staff with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries continues to clear tires from the beach in Carteret County that are washing up after passing hurricanes.
Division staff, aided by inmates from Duplin Correctional Center in Kenansville and Carteret Correctional Center in Newport, has removed an estimated 2,900 tires from Bogue Banks since Sept. 8, after Hurricane Katia passed.
“We’re still pulling them in from Katia today,” said Jim Francesconi, division Artificial Reef Program coordinator.
Division staff estimated they removed 1,553 tires from Bogue Banks following Hurricane Irene.
Francesconi said tires may continue to wash ashore for some time as more tropical storms pass. Also, as winter storms begin, they may uncover tires that had been buried in sand.
As part of its artificial reef program, in the 1970s the Division of Marine Fisheries constructed artificial reefs made of tires for fish habitat and to produce attractive fishing grounds—the practice of using tires for artificial reefs has been discontinued for many years. However, tires from these old reefs are sometimes loosened during storms and wash ashore. Division staff believes that the tires washed up from the Atlantic Beach reef and the Onslow Bay Saltwater Fishing Club reef.
The tires are being hauled to a Carteret County Solid Waste transfer station on Hibbs Road, where they will be held for pickup by a tire recycling company.
Division of Marine Fisheries Continues to Remove Tires from Beach
MOREHEAD CITY – Staff with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries continues to clear tires from the beach in Carteret County that are washing up after passing hurricanes.
Division staff, aided by inmates from Duplin Correctional Center in Kenansville and Carteret Correctional Center in Newport, has removed an estimated 2,900 tires from Bogue Banks since Sept. 8, after Hurricane Katia passed.
“We’re still pulling them in from Katia today,” said Jim Francesconi, division Artificial Reef Program coordinator.
Division staff estimated they removed 1,553 tires from Bogue Banks following Hurricane Irene.
Francesconi said tires may continue to wash ashore for some time as more tropical storms pass. Also, as winter storms begin, they may uncover tires that had been buried in sand.
As part of its artificial reef program, in the 1970s the Division of Marine Fisheries constructed artificial reefs made of tires for fish habitat and to produce attractive fishing grounds—the practice of using tires for artificial reefs has been discontinued for many years. However, tires from these old reefs are sometimes loosened during storms and wash ashore. Division staff believes that the tires washed up from the Atlantic Beach reef and the Onslow Bay Saltwater Fishing Club reef.
The tires are being hauled to a Carteret County Solid Waste transfer station on Hibbs Road, where they will be held for pickup by a tire recycling company.