PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE
SUBTITLE H. ARTIFICIAL REEFS
CHAPTER 89. ARTIFICIAL REEFS
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 89.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Artificial reef" means a structure or system of
structures constructed, placed, or permitted in water covered under
this chapter for the purpose of enhancing fishery resources and
commercial and recreational fishing opportunities.
(2) "National Fishing Enhancement Act" means Title II
of Public Law No. 98-623, enacting 16 U.S.C. Section 1220d and 33
U.S.C. Sections 2101 through 2106 and amending 16 U.S.C. Sections
1220 through 1220c.
(3) "Reef materials" includes only materials allowed
under the national artificial reef plan adopted under the National
Fishing Enhancement Act for construction of artificial reefs.
(4) "Water covered under this chapter" means the
navigable water of Texas and water of the federal fisheries
conservation zone adjacent to Texas water.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 47, § 1, eff. May 1, 1989.
§ 89.002. GENERAL DUTIES. (a) The department shall
promote, develop, maintain, monitor, and enhance the artificial
reef potential in water covered under this chapter.
(b) In carrying out the duties under Subsection (a) of this
section, the department shall:
(1) plan and review permit applications for artificial
reefs;
(2) coordinate with relevant state and federal
agencies;
(3) hold public hearings on proposed artificial reefs;
(4) oversee maintenance and placement requirements of
artificial reefs; and
(5) develop rules and guidelines, in conjunction with
the advisory committee, in the collection of fees, grants, and
donations to the artificial reef account.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 47, § 1, eff. May 1, 1989.
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 679, § 58, eff. Sept. 1,
1993.
§ 89.003. DEPARTMENT AUTHORIZED TO SERVE AS
PERMITTEE. (a) The department may apply for a federal permit and
serve as permittee for an artificial reef located in water covered
under this chapter if the establishment of the reef complies with
this chapter and the National Fishing Enhancement Act.
(b) In applying for a permit under this section, the
department shall:
(1) consult with and consider the views of appropriate
federal and state agencies, local governments, and other interested
persons;
(2) ensure that the provisions in the permit for
siting, constructing, monitoring, maintaining, and managing an
artificial reef are consistent with the criteria and standards
established under this chapter and the National Fishing Enhancement
Act;
(3) ensure that title to an artificial reef component
or construction material is unambiguous; and
(4) consider the national artificial reef plan adopted
under the National Fishing Enhancement Act and notify the Secretary
of the United States Department of Commerce of any need to deviate
from that plan.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 47, § 1, eff. May 1, 1989.
§ 89.004. PERSON OTHER THAN DEPARTMENT AS
PERMITTEE. The department shall review and comment on an
application for an artificial reef permit by a person other than the
department to ensure that the conditions of the permit are
consistent with the state artificial reef plan and the National
Fishing Enhancement Act.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 47, § 1, eff. May 1, 1989.
§ 89.005. USE OF BRIDGES, TUNNELS, AND CAUSEWAYS.
Text of section as added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 968, § 46
(a) The department, in cooperation with the Texas
Department of Transportation and local governments, may use
obsolete bridges, tunnels, and causeways to create artificial reefs
under this chapter.
(b) The department may receive from the Texas Department of
Transportation the transfer of obsolete bridges, tunnels, and
causeways to create artificial reefs.
(c) The department may provide assistance, including money,
to a local government to fulfill the purposes of this section.
(d) Any money appropriated to the department for the
artificial reef program under this chapter may be used for the
purposes of this section.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 968, § 46, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
For text of section as added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1137, §
1, see § 89.005, post.
§ 89.005. USE OF BRIDGES, TUNNELS, AND CAUSEWAYS.
Text of section as added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1137, § 1
(a) The Texas Department of Transportation shall coordinate
with the department and local governments to use obsolete bridges,
tunnels, and causeways to create artificial reefs under this
chapter.
(b) The Texas Department of Transportation may transfer
obsolete bridges, tunnels, and causeways to the department to
create artificial reefs.
(c) The department may provide assistance, including money,
to a local government to fulfill the purposes of this section.
(d) Any money appropriated to the department for the
artificial reef program under this chapter may be used for the
purposes of this section.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1137, § 1, eff. June 15, 2001.
For text of section as added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 968, §
46, see § 89.005, ante.
SUBCHAPTER B. STATE ARTIFICIAL REEF PLAN
§ 89.021. STATE ARTIFICIAL REEF PLAN. (a) The
department shall develop a state artificial reef plan that meets
the purpose of this chapter and is consistent with the standards
under Section 89.023 of this code.
(b) The department shall administer and enforce the plan in
accordance with this chapter and the National Fishing Enhancement
Act.
(c) The department shall develop any additional technical
information needed to carry out the plan.
(d) Repealed by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 925, § 2(5),
eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 47, § 1, eff. May 1, 1989.
Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 925, § 2, eff. Sept. 1,
1999.
§ 89.022. REQUIRED PROVISIONS. The state artificial
reef plan must include:
(1) operational guidelines for the plan, including
specific participant roles, and projected funding requirements for
the plan;
(2) geographic, hydrographic, geological, biological,
ecological, social, economic, and other criteria for permitting and
siting artificial reefs;
(3) design, materials, and other criteria for
establishing, constructing, and maintaining artificial reefs;
(4) mechanisms and methodologies for monitoring
artificial reefs in compliance with the requirements of permits
issued under the National Fishing Enhancement Act;
(5) mechanisms and methodologies for managing the use
of artificial reefs;
(6) a map that depicts priority areas for artificial
reef development consistent with this chapter and the National
Fishing Enhancement Act; and
(7) provisions for managing the artificial reef
account in a manner that will assure successful implementation of
the plan.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 47, § 1, eff. May 1, 1989.
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 679, § 59, eff. Sept. 1,
1993.
§ 89.023. STANDARDS. An artificial reef located in
water covered under this chapter must be sited, constructed,
maintained, monitored, and managed in a manner that:
(1) enhances and conserves fishery resources to the
maximum extent practicable;
(2) facilitates access and use by Texas recreational
and commercial fishermen;
(3) minimizes conflicts among competing uses of water
and water resources;
(4) minimizes environmental risks and risks to
personal and public health and property;
(5) is consistent with generally accepted principles
of international law and national fishing law and does not create
any unreasonable obstruction to navigation;
(6) uses the best scientific information available;
and
(7) conforms to the state artificial reef plan.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 47, § 1, eff. May 1, 1989.
§ 89.024. COMPLETION DATE. The department must
complete the state artificial reef plan on or before September 1,
1990.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 47, § 1, eff. May 1, 1989.
§ 89.025. REEFS CONSISTENT WITH PLAN. (a) All
artificial reefs developed in state water must be consistent with
the state artificial reef plan.
(b) Comments and recommendations by a state agency
regarding artificial reefs in federal water must be consistent with
the state artificial reef plan.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 47, § 1, eff. May 1, 1989.
SUBCHAPTER C. ARTIFICIAL REEF ACCOUNT
§ 89.041. ARTIFICIAL REEF ACCOUNT. (a) The artificial
reef account is a separate account in the general revenue fund.
(b) The account is composed of all funds received under
Section 89.043 of this code, including interest and earnings.
(c) No state general revenue funds shall be expended in the
development or implementation of this plan.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 47, § 1, eff. May 1, 1989.
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 679, § 60, eff. Sept. 1,
1993.
§ 89.042. DEDICATION. The funds received under Section
89.043 of this code are dedicated to the department for the purpose
of carrying out this chapter, including siting, designing,
constructing, monitoring, and otherwise managing an artificial
reef or artificial reef system.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 47, § 1, eff. May 1, 1989.
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 679, § 60, eff. Sept. 1,
1993.
§ 89.043. GRANTS, DONATIONS, AND OTHER ASSISTANCE. The
department may accept grants, donations of money or materials, and
other forms of assistance from private and public sources.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 47, § 1, eff. May 1, 1989.
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 679, § 60, eff. Sept. 1,
1993.
SUBCHAPTER D. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
§ 89.061. LIABILITY. (a) The state, an agency of the
state, or an insurer of the state or agency of the state is not
liable for damages caused by an activity required under the terms
and conditions of a permit for an artificial reef.
(b) A person who has transferred title of artificial reef
construction materials to the state is not liable for damages
arising from the use of the materials in an artificial reef if the
materials meet applicable requirements of the National Fishing
Enhancement Act and applicable regulations of the United States
Department of the Interior.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 47, § 1, eff. May 1, 1989.
