High winds and strong currents have postponed the delivery, but now, Manatee County will finally be getting a new reef.
- Manatee County to get new reef named after marine life activist
- County to get 14th reef in water
- Reef named after Larry Borden, a spear fisher and charter boat captain
- Borden also an activist for promoting marine life
The reef will not only bring in more tourists, but it will also leave a legacy.
For the last 70 years, Larry Borden has called this water home, and now a piece of his legacy will always live on in the water.
“It’s incredible to have the first reef named after you. I feel very fortunate,” Borden said.
There are currently 13 reefs in the water surrounding Manatee County. The 14th reef will be the first one named after a person.
“Larry was a unanimous pick for naming it after, giving him the honor for his experience and what he’s done,” Alan Lai Hipp said.
A true fisherman at heart, Larry has not only been a spear fisher and charter boat captain for the last 50 years, he is also an activist for promoting marine life.
“The people understand the output and the need for reefs and that wasn’t the case 20 years ago,” Borden said.
On average, almost 500 people visit the reefs in Manatee County every day. The newest reef, paid for entirely from grants, is expected to hit the water on Friday.
The reef will be very accessible for boaters on Long Boat Key. The reef is about 7 miles off shore of Coquina Beach.
While the pieces of the reef may only look like rubble right now, Larry is hopeful it will turn into a home for underwater life.
“The reef fish, like Grouper and Snapper, have a chance to get down there and get away from fishermen,” Borden said.
Whether it is protecting the fish or catching them, Larry is hopeful the reef will bring more people to the water he calls home.