In 2000, the San Diego Oceans Foundation (SDOF) scuttled the Canadian Destroyer Escort Yukon off of the San Diego coastline, turning the ship into an artificial reef. Since its transformation into a reef, the Yukon has become the site of 10,800 dives each year, including 6,000 by out-of-town divers, for a contribution of $4.5 million to the local economy.

In order to quantify the direct economic benefits to San Diego of this new marine habitat, SDOF initiated two studies on the economic effects of divers visiting Yukon:

1. An expenditure survey to determine the project's market contributions and local economic impact;

2. An analysis of data regarding the origin of divers visiting the Yukon and other reefs in Southern California.

While the environmental benefits of similar manmade habitats are well-known in Gulf Coast states, the Yukon is the first such project on the West Coast. The SDOF therefore also commissioned a report on the Yukon's environmental effects.

The findings of the reports, available at www.sdoceans.org or by calling 619-523-1903, indicate that the Yukon has contributed significant benefits to the local economy and can be expected to continue to be a positive attraction for both sea life and humans.

Specific findings of the reports include the following:

Economic Highlights

• Expenditures have contributed $4.5 million to local economy, and have supported 225 full-time jobs and more than $700,000 in wages and salaries.

• Local economy benefits from more than ten times the initial investment every year ($4.5 million compared to $435,000).

• With more than half of its divers from out of town, the Yukon benefits not only the diving industry, but also businesses relying on tourism as well as city and county governments through tax revenues.

Environmental Highlights

• Fish populations have increased significantly since the reef first formed.

• The Yukon has benefited certain fish species by functioning as a breeding ground and nursery for blackfish as well as sheephead and boccacio, two species whose populations have been seriously depleted by overfishing.

• The reef is more favorable for vermillion rockfish and boccacio than a nearby natural habitat in La Jolla

• The Yukon may also have a beneficial effect as a new "stepping stone" for mobile species in "Wreck Alley," a network of artificial reefs between natural habitats north and south of the reef.

• Marine life on and around the Yukon has and continues to increase in species richness and diversity.

For more details, please visit www.sdoceans.org or call 619-523-1903 to receive a free DVD copy of the reports and additional supporting information.