About the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association (MBARA)



The Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association (MBARA) was formed in January of 1997 and has since deployed over 150 artificial reefs.

The primary function of the organization is the conservation and environmental improvement of our natural and artificial marine reef systems in the Gulf of Mexico near Mexico Beach, Florida, but that is not all that has been done by the organization. Since its inception, the MBARA has also worked very hard to conduct and promote scientific research and evaluation of reef designs, biomass development, and fish productions.

The third function of the MBARA is educating the public about the importance of reef systems to the marine ecosystem, and the impact they have on the coastal communities where they are built. All parties benefit when the information on reefs is disseminated to the public. School children, the organization's members, and the general public need to know all about reefs and reef building in order to help promote conservation and environmental improvement of the marine reef systems.

We need membership support!
Please join today! Your membership dues and tax deductible donations will be used to build new artificial reefs. For your convenience you can JOIN ONLINE.
Click to Join

We need volunteers!
Are you an experienced diver? Do you have computer and writing skills? We also need writers to process grant applications. We Need Volunteers!

We need donors!
If you don't have time to volunteer, you can still help by making tax deductible contributions for reef building.

Click to Donate

For more details, contact Bob Cox at rcox@mchsi.com


Click to Join  Click to Donate

2022 MBARA Kingfish Tournament Winners and Final Standings

The Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association (MBARA) Kingfish Tournament was held on 30 July 2022.

This year, 54 boats entered the Recreational Division and 75 in the Open/Professional/Masters (OPM) Division for a total of 129 boats.  12 boats in the Recreational Division and 11 boats in OPM Division weighed King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Wahoo, and Mahi.  For the largest Red Snapper competition, 65 of the 129 boats registered.  3 boats from the Recreational Division and 10 boats from OPM Division weighed Red Snapper with the winning boat from the OPM Division.

Click Final Standings for all the fish that were weighed.