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==Why Artificial Reefs?==
==Why Artificial Reefs?==


Artificial reefs serve to protect coral reefs form human-induced damages.  In addition, they are used for mitigating coastal erosion, creating surf breaks, and in the past have been built to block ships from entering coastal waters.  These structures create plankton-rich feeding spots that attract small animals and the reef soon becomes covered by encrusting coral and sponges.  The collection of smaller marine organisms brings in predators and expands to establish a new habitat.  The significance of this is that these spots divert reef-dwellers like divers and boaters from endangered coral reefs to the artificial reef.<ref>"What Are Artificial Reefs and Where Are They Located in the Mid-Atlantic? | Mid-Atlantic Coastal Environment." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 24 Jan. 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.</ref><ref>Heller, Greg. "Surfing A to Z." Artificial Reefs Explained. Surfline, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2013. </ref>
Artificial reefs serve to protect coral reefs form human-induced damages.  In addition, they are used for mitigating coastal erosion, creating surf breaks, and in the past have been built to block ships from entering coastal waters.  These structures create plankton-rich feeding spots that attract small animals and the reef soon becomes covered by encrusting coral and sponges.  The collection of smaller marine organisms brings in predators and expands to establish a new habitat.  The significance of this is that these spots divert reef-dwellers like divers and boaters from endangered coral reefs to the artificial reef.<ref>"What Are Artificial Reefs and Where Are They Located in the Mid-Atlantic? | Mid-Atlantic Coastal Environment." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 24 Jan. 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.</ref><ref>Heller, Greg. "Surfing A to Z." Artificial Reefs Explained. Surfline, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2013. </ref> Not only do artificial reefs serve as protectors, but they can be used to maintain fisheries management and promote ecotourism for Small Island Developing States.


==Fisheries Management==
==Fisheries Management==

Revision as of 12:41, 14 April 2013

Artificial Reefs

What are Artificial Reefs?

An artificial reef is a human-made underwater structure that substitutes as a natural reef to form a habitat for marine life. Artificial reefs are placed in areas where there is little bottom topography or near coral reefs to attract marine populations. These structures are made from a variety of materials including shipwrecks, construction debris, oil rigs, concrete, and any other man-made materials.[1] Artificial reefs are placed in areas where there is little bottom topography or near coral reefs to attract marine populations. By providing shelter from predation and surfaces for encrusting organisms to grow on the man-made structure creates a habitat. Lower level food chain organisms attract predators increasing the biodiversity. As time passes the reef is characterized by sponges, hard and soft corals, algae, numerous fish species, crustaceans, and many other creatures. Artificial reefs may be intentional or unintentional, thus those that are not may carry impositions with them that can have adverse effects on the ecosystem.

Why Artificial Reefs?

Artificial reefs serve to protect coral reefs form human-induced damages. In addition, they are used for mitigating coastal erosion, creating surf breaks, and in the past have been built to block ships from entering coastal waters. These structures create plankton-rich feeding spots that attract small animals and the reef soon becomes covered by encrusting coral and sponges. The collection of smaller marine organisms brings in predators and expands to establish a new habitat. The significance of this is that these spots divert reef-dwellers like divers and boaters from endangered coral reefs to the artificial reef.[2][3] Not only do artificial reefs serve as protectors, but they can be used to maintain fisheries management and promote ecotourism for Small Island Developing States.

Fisheries Management

  • biodiversity
  • sustainability of fish populations
  • special features of artificial reefs in solving fisheries management problems[4]

Types of Artificial Reefs

  • Basic characteristics and requirements, must be heavy, non-toxic, etc.[5][6][7]

Manufactured

  • EMA
  • reef balls and fish condos
  • mass produced concrete structures (e.g. cinder blocks)

Recycled

  • extensive cleaning and prep required
  • public transit
  • retired ships
  • retired tanks and military equipment
  • tires

Additional Types of Artificial Reefs

  • Art and sculpture reefs - Silent Evolution in Cancun
  • Memorial reefs - Neptune Reef - Ashes from cremation formed into artificial reef bases
  • Surfing reefs - Cables, Perth, Australia[8]


How Do Artificial Reefs Stack Up with Natural Reefs?

  • Note inconclusiveness and need for additional studies[9]

Advantages of Artificial

  • Can be placed in convenient and easily accessible locations[10]
  • Cheap recycled materials[11]
  • Can be calibrated specifically for their environment and specific organisms[12][13]
  • long term profit for tourism
  • Rapid colonization, high fish densities, and high catch rates[14][15]

Disadvantages of Artificial

  • Expensive transportation and labor
  • Recycled materials need extensive cleaning and stripping[16]
  • Possible introduction of toxins
  • large initial investment
  • Suggested that only 50 percent of artificial reefs meet their established goals[17][18]
  • Heavily exploited areas need significantly more help than just adding reef structures[19]

Eco-tourism and Artificial Reefs

  • New dive sites lead to new economic opportunities
  • Cheap option for developing tropical countries to attract tourists
  • Long term profit
  • Increased and easily located fish populations attract tourists interested in fishing[20]
  • Tourists attracted to reef destinations create a demand for hotels, restaurants, and other markets associated with tourists
  • All of the above while helping the oceans and increasing fish populations!


http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/02/artificial-reefs/harrigan-text

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/a-thriving-artificial-coral-reef-is-big-business


References

  1. "What Are Artificial Reefs and Where Are They Located in the Mid-Atlantic? | Mid-Atlantic Coastal Environment." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 24 Jan. 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
  2. "What Are Artificial Reefs and Where Are They Located in the Mid-Atlantic? | Mid-Atlantic Coastal Environment." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 24 Jan. 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
  3. Heller, Greg. "Surfing A to Z." Artificial Reefs Explained. Surfline, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
  4. Bortone, Stephen A. Artificial Reefs in Fisheries Management. Boca Raton, FL: CRC, 2011. Print.
  5. Carr, Mark H., and Hixon, Mark A. “Artificial Reefs: The Importance of Comparisons with Natural Reefs.” Fisheries 22.4 (1997) 28-33. Print. 26 Feb. 2013.
  6. Bohnsack, James A., and David L. Sutherland. "Artificial reef research: a review with recommendations for future priorities." Bulletin of Marine Science 37.1 (1985): 11-39. Print. 26 Feb. 2013.
  7. Baine, Mark. "Artificial reefs: a review of their design, application, management and performance." Ocean & Coastal Management 44.3 (2001): 241-259. Print. 26 Feb. 2013.
  8. Heller, Greg. "Surfing A to Z." Artificial Reefs Explained. Surfline, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
  9. Bohnsack, James A., and David L. Sutherland. "Artificial reef research: a review with recommendations for future priorities." Bulletin of Marine Science 37.1 (1985): 11-39. Print. 26 Feb. 2013.
  10. Carr, Mark H., and Hixon, Mark A. “Artificial Reefs: The Importance of Comparisons with Natural Reefs.” Fisheries 22.4 (1997) 28-33. Print. 26 Feb. 2013.
  11. Baine, Mark. "Artificial reefs: a review of their design, application, management and performance." Ocean & Coastal Management 44.3 (2001): 241-259. Print. 26 Feb. 2013.
  12. Bohnsack, James A., and David L. Sutherland. "Artificial reef research: a review with recommendations for future priorities." Bulletin of Marine Science 37.1 (1985): 11-39. Print. 26 Feb. 2013.
  13. Baine, Mark. "Artificial reefs: a review of their design, application, management and performance." Ocean & Coastal Management 44.3 (2001): 241-259. Print. 26 Feb. 2013.
  14. Bohnsack, James A. "Are high densities of fishes at artificial reefs the result of habitat limitation or behavioral preference?." Bulletin of Marine Science 44.2 (1989): 631-645. Print. 26 Feb. 2013.
  15. Randall, John E. "An analysis of the fish populations of artificial and natural reefs in the Virgin Islands." Carib. J. Sci 3.1 (1963): 31-47. Print. 26 Feb. 2013.
  16. Baine, Mark. "Artificial reefs: a review of their design, application, management and performance." Ocean & Coastal Management 44.3 (2001): 241-259. Print. 26 Feb. 2013.
  17. Bohnsack, James A. "Are high densities of fishes at artificial reefs the result of habitat limitation or behavioral preference?." Bulletin of Marine Science 44.2 (1989): 631-645. Print. 26 Feb. 2013.
  18. Carr, Mark H., and Hixon, Mark A. “Artificial Reefs: The Importance of Comparisons with Natural Reefs.” Fisheries 22.4 (1997) 28-33. Print. 26 Feb. 2013.
  19. Carr, Mark H., and Hixon, Mark A. “Artificial Reefs: The Importance of Comparisons with Natural Reefs.” Fisheries 22.4 (1997) 28-33. Print. 26 Feb. 2013.
  20. Bohnsack, James A. "Are high densities of fishes at artificial reefs the result of habitat limitation or behavioral preference?." Bulletin of Marine Science 44.2 (1989): 631-645. Print. 26 Feb. 2013.
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