Borocho freighter sunk to form new marine habitat
The Borocho freighter, once linked to cocaine smuggling, was deliberately sunk off Stuart, Florida, to expand the region’s artificial reef network. The 227-foot steel vessel was submerged on November 18 in nearly 200 feet of water, nine miles off the St. Lucie Inlet, marking the creation of the Boo McCulley Reef. The project, funded in part by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, supports ongoing efforts to restore habitat and improve fisheries along Florida’s Atlantic coast.
Honouring Boo McCulley and his reef legacy
Named after John “Boo” McCulley, the site recognises his two decades shaping Martin County’s reef program, during which his company deployed about 60 structures. Family and colleagues watched as crews flooded the ship through pre-cut openings, sending it to the seabed around 1:20 p.m. McCulley’s work helped create a corridor for marine species, boosting local ecosystems and attracting divers and anglers across the region.
Florida expands one of the nation’s largest reef programs
The Borocho’s deployment comes as Florida continues to lead U.S. coastal states in artificial reef construction. FWC invests roughly $600,000 annually, with more than 4,400 reefs built since the 1940s. The repurposed freighter, seized years ago with 27 kilograms of cocaine aboard, now begins a new chapter as a deep-water habitat designed to strengthen biodiversity off Florida’s east coast.
