McGurrin et al. (1989) provided an excellent article on the history of artificial reef development in the United States. This summary will cover some of the high points in that article. The first documented artificial reef in the United States was off South Carolina in the 1830s using log huts. IntheGulfofMexico,artificialreefswereconstructedasearlyasthe1950soffAlabama. Fromthat time to the present, over 80% of artificial reefs in United States waters have been created using secondary use materials. Secondary use materials include such natural materials as rock, shell, or trees, and such man-made materials as concrete, ships, barges, and oil and gas structures, among others. Most early artificial reef development efforts were accomplished by volunteer groups interested in increasing fishing success. It was widely held that artificial reefs were successful; consequently, deployment of materials took a higher priority to other activities such as planning,