Fishermen are sinking boats and dumping concrete in the Gulf of Mexico – to save the fish

As for the impact on climate change, the researchers say they have found some evidence that an artificial reef could hold more carbon compared to a natural reef.

Still, the researchers say they are eager for the summer months to arrive, which is ideal for underwater activities, to collect samples and study the reef.

“We just started this project and the amount of sediment down there makes us feel that it can be a substantial amount of carbon that can be held,” said Kline, who says he is hopeful this could lead to other artificial reef projects around the world, including in freshwater, such as the Great Lakes.

“We have as humans taken and taken from the environment. Mother Nature is fairly resilient and if we help a little bit, we might get a big return on putting carbon back,” he said.

After he finished showing CBC News the concrete pieces that will be sunk into the Gulf of Mexico this summer, Haynungs jumped back into his boat to begin the short return trip to shore.

There is one stop along the way — to see a pair of tugboats, the “Titan” and “Mark K.” Both vessels are being cleaned before they, too, will be purposely sent to the bottom of the sea and in the process, continue to build up the size of the reef.

Haynungs said he is immensely proud of what his group has built and what it could mean for the community to bring back an abundance of sea life, especially for the tourism and fishing industries. He sees the revival with his own eyes, as he scuba dives dozens of times every year.

Still, there is much more work ahead. The plan is to keep putting more concrete and steel down into the water for several more years, he said, to grow the reef and the fish population, while sucking up some carbon, too.

“I hope to have kids one day and hope to have them come out to this reef,” said Haynungs. “I just want to see them catch fish.”