An artificial reef made from recycled automobile tires off Yarmouth, Massachusetts, remains part of the local marine environment 48 years after it was established in 1978. The site lies about 2.2 miles south of the mouth of Bass River and measures roughly 880 yards by 40 yards, according to the town.
The project was intended to reuse old tires while adding structure to the seafloor. Yarmouth says material was added to the reef in 1981, 1995 and 1998. The town reports that the tire reef has supported substantial fish populations and provided good fishing for recreational and commercial boats for many years.
Long-term monitoring remains important. The town says recent diver surveys found that the tires had become somewhat dispersed. That observation helps assess how artificial reefs change over time and whether they retain their original arrangement.
The Yarmouth site contrasts with poorly secured tire projects in which loose tires moved across the seabed and damaged natural reefs. Outcomes depend on where and how structures are built and whether they are monitored; using tires alone does not guarantee an environmental benefit.
Town records describe the reef as a recycled-tire structure expanded in several stages. It now serves as a fishing area and a reminder that artificial underwater structures need long-term oversight.