This is one of two F101s deployed June 27 2014 3nm South of the MB Miller fishing pier in the Gulf of Mexico.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Valerie Sale
Public Information Officer
Phone: (850) 248-8170
Cell: (850) 814-6122
vsale@baycountyfl.gov
UPDATE:
Bay County deployment of jets rescheduled for Friday
F101 Voodoos, prefabricated modules to be placed along PCB
JUNE 26, 2014
PANAMA CITY –
Due to time constraints Thursday in the deployment of a series of artificial reef material along the coast of Panama City Beach, the two retired F101 Voodoo Air Force fighter jets will be delivered to their respective reef sites on Friday, June 26.
The Bay County Board of County Commissioners’ Planning and Zoning Department is overseeing the effort to create the new reefs, along with assistance from several area government and private organizations.
“It’s very exciting to have a piece of Bay County history available to the public in perpetuity,” Bay County Commissioner Bill Dozier said. “Residents and tourists from all over the world will be able to come to Bay County to enjoy fishing and diving on the reef created by the aircraft.”
The Voodoos were piloted by former Bay County Commissioner Rick Seltzer and Carleton “Sonny” Vail and will be located three nautical miles south of the M.B. Miller County Pier.
Past deployment of ex-fighter jets have made excellent reefs. Prized reef fish, including red snapper, were observed in a recent monitoring trip to survey F106 aircraft deployed off the shore of Bay County in the 1990s. It is anticipated that the F101s will provide similar quality fishing and diving opportunities.
The Bay County Tourist Development Council provided $30,000 toward the deployment cost.
In addition to the two aircraft, a series of artificial reefs consisting of 34 pre-fabricated concrete reef modules will be placed over two permit locations on Thursday at a cost of $60,000 funded by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission – Marine Fisheries Artificial Reef Program (FWC). The grant funds will deploy a total of 18 modules to complete the reef where the jets are located. An additional 16 artificial reef modules will be deployed three nautical miles south of the city pier at Pier Park. This permitted area will receive additional reef material in the future.
Bay County also received a $12,000 grant from FWC to locate and monitor 35 reefs previously deployed under the LORAN coordinate system. Completion of this project helps residents and visitors easily locate existing reefs using GPS technology. Florida State University – Panama City (FSU-PC) provided technical expertise and equipment to complete this project.
The FSU-PC Sea Nole provided support for essential pre-deployment activities for Thursday. University of Florida/IFAS Extension Bay County Florida Sea Grant Program, Tyndall Dive Club, City of Panama City, Bay County Artificial Reef Association, and local Fishing/Diving Community have also provided volunteer hours, expertise, resources, and support to complete the reef projects
New Reefs for Bay County Pre-deployment coordinates for June 26 – 27 Artificial Reef Deployments
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