Habitat
Restoration

Sean Gucken Memorial Reef – On June 29, 2020, CCA Florida joined the Building Conservation Trust and Yamaha Rightwaters™ to successfully deploy nearly 200 tons of high-quality concrete about 5 nautical miles off Anna Maria Island to create the Sean Gucken Memorial Reef.  Since 2017, CCA Florida has spearheaded the Sean Gucken Memorial Reef project, in an effort to honor its late member who unexpectedly passed away that same year. Gucken, from St. Petersburg, a revered angler, free diver and spear-fisherman, was also a devout advocate for protecting Florida’s waters and marine resources. The deployment is a tribute to his passion and the Gucken Reef will continue his legacy by helping create new fisheries and habitats.

The concrete was deployed on the Manatee County “Bridge Reef,” a pre-permitted artificial reef site roughly .25-mile long by .25-mile wide. The concrete reefing materials were donated by Port Manatee and Westra Construction and CCA Florida, BCT and Yamaha secured all the funding for the project. The Bridge Reef is located west of Anna Maria Island, 27º°30 55.44 / 82º 49 1.56 central point.  A separate tetrahedron memorial module for Gucken will be deployed on the Bridge Reef in a private ceremony later this year.  The module is 10’ at the base by 8’ tall and has a bronze plaque engraved with the following: “Sean O. Gucken, May 30, 1962 – September 3, 2017, CCA member and protector of the health, habitat and sustainability of Florida’s marine resources.  Avid sportsman and steward of marine resource conservation programs. Strong advocate for anglers and divers responsible access to Florida waters.”