Availble for Review and Comment
California Artificial Reef Progam Plan DRAFT - July 2026
The purpose of this review period is to gather feedback on the draft plan before it is finalized. The input received will help inform revisions to the document and support the development of guidance for potential future artificial reefs in California state marine waters.
- Tribal Comment Period: July 6 - September 4, 2026 (60-days) | Public Comment Period: July 20 - September 4, 2026 (45-days)
- To facilitate comment submission, the Califorina Department of Fish and Wildlife has developed an online comment form
- While use of the form is strongly encouraged for convenience, it is not required. We welcome comments in whatever format is most accessible and appropriate for you. Comments not reported in the form can be sent to artificialreefs@wildlife.ca.gov.
All comments are due by 5:00 p.m. September 4, 2026
California Artificial Reef Program (CARP)
In California, artificial reefs are defined as “manmade or natural objects intentionally placed in selected areas of the marine environment to duplicate those conditions that induce production of fish and invertebrates on natural reefs and rough bottoms, and that stimulate the growth of kelp or other midwater plant life which creates natural habitat for those species” (Fish and Game Code § 6421(a)).
The CARP was established in 1985 (Fish and Game Code §§ 6420 - 6425) and was never fully implemented due to lack of allocated resources. The CARP is administered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and includes:
- the placement of artificial reefs in state waters;
- a study of existing, successful reefs and all new reefs placed by the program to determine the design criteria needed to construct artificial reefs capable of increasing fish and invertebrate production in state waters; and
- requirements for reef siting and placement.
CDFW, in partnership with California Sea Grant and the California Ocean Protection Council has developed a science-based and stakeholder-informed programmatic guidance plan to inform the statewide implementation of the CARP as resources are available. The CARP Plan provides regulators and developers with a best practices guide to inform artificial reef development and review. The DRAFT California Artificial Reef Program Plan July 2026 is currently available for public comment until September 4, 2026.
The CARP Plan includes guidance on artificial reef materials, design, siting, goals and objectives, monitoring and permitting. These topic areas were selected based on feedback received from stakeholder outreach conducted from 2017 to 2025. The CARP Plan aggregates the best available science and integrates input from California Native American tribes and stakeholders. The CARP Plan serves as an evidence-based, stakeholder-informed guide to ensure future potential artificial reef projects maximize benefits and minimize negative impacts.
CARP Plan Process and Timeline
Pre-project online listening sessions held in early 2025 provided details on the development process and a forum for attendees to get questions answered and to provide input to help guide the development of the CARP Plan. The Technical Writing Group (TWG) that includes 11 scientific experts began work in spring 2025 to ensure the best available science was included in the CARP Plan. Additional Tribal and Public listening sessions were held at the beginning of 2026 to present key concepts emerging from the draft document. The 2026 Listening Sessions provided another opportunity for California Native American tribes, scientists, experts, and stakeholders to provide additional input and feedback that helped shape the DRAFT CARP Plan realeased in July 2026.
California Native American tribes can request consultation at any time by eamiling Tribal.Liaison@wildlife.ca.gov.
Outreach Summary
- 2017 In-person Open Listening Sessions Sacramento, Oxnard and Los Alamitos
- 2018 Ongoing Artificial Reef Recreational Use Online Survey (Updated July 2026)
- 2021 California Artificial Reef Science Workshop hosted by CDFW's Marine Region
- 2024 November New California Artificial Reef Program webpages launch
- 2024 December Notification letter to Tribes on preparation of CARP Plan
- 2025 January 22 & 23 Online Pre-project Tribal Listening Sessions
- 2025 February 26 Online Pre-project Open Listening Session
- 2025 March 20 Online Pre-project Open Listening Session
- 2026 January 28 & 29 Online 50% Draft Tribal Listening Sessions
- 2026 February 3 & 4 Online 50% Draft Open Listening Sessions
- 2026 June 11 Notification letter to Tribes on CARP Plan DRAFT release
- 2026 July 6 California Native American tribes release of CARP Plan DRAFT
- 2026 July 20 Public release of CARP Plan DRAFT
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Photo banner at top: CDFW scientific divers collecting data at Chalk Cove Artificial Reef off Santa Catalina Island, October 2024.