Okaloosa County has Florida's most active artificial reef program, supported by a team of marine biologists. One focus is promoting fisheries access, restoring, enhancing, or creating quality habitat for fish and other marine life, and supporting fisheries management and research in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area.

The County has created more than 565 public artificial reefs since the mid-1970s, with more than 50% of them being created in the last five years. These sites range from secondary-use concrete such as concrete culverts, bridge material, or military practice targets, to small (65ft.) and large (440ft.) decommissioned vessels. In addition to nearly 240 square miles of permitted offshore reef areas, Okaloosa County has 8 actively permitted nearshore artificial reef areas.

One of the most commonly-deployed artificial reef habitats in the northern Gulf of Mexico in recent years are prefabricated concrete modules designed to mimic characteristics of natural reef habitat. The vertical relief provides habitat for reef-dependent fish like snappers, jacks, and baitfish.

Funding is requested to create and deploy prefabricated concrete modules. The county has committed $25,000 and is working with the Emerald Coast Reef Association (ECRA), a local non-profit, Destin High School, and other groups within the community to raise additional funds. The $50,000 of allocated funds would support the creation/deployment of at least 15-20 modules. Volunteers will be primarily involved with fundraising activities, with county staff coordinating between the non-profit programs and reef building contractor (who does the actual construction and deployment of reefs).