Monitoring of reef associated and pelagic fish communities on Australia’s first purpose built offshore artificial reef

2016 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 277-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alistair Becker ◽  
Matthew D. Taylor ◽  
Michael B. Lowry
Keyword(s):  
Fish Assemblage ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Artificial Reefs ◽  
Fish Length ◽  
Reef Fish Assemblage ◽  
Length Data ◽  
Natural Reefs ◽  
Term Monitoring

Artificial reefs now form part of an integrated approach to enhance fisheries around the world. A responsible approach to artificial reef deployment calls for clear, well defined goals prior to any reef being placed in the field, followed by subsequent monitoring to assess whether these goals are being achieved. In this study, to evaluate if an artificial reef off Sydney was meeting its goal of providing quality fishing opportunities through the establishment of a complex fish assemblage, a 4-year monitoring program was designed. This program examined the response of reef-associated and pelagic fishes to the deployment of a purpose built offshore reef, relative to control reefs. Fish were observed immediately following deployment, but the artificial reef fish assemblage remained distinct from the three natural control reefs throughout the monitoring period. Also, the artificial reef displayed inter-annual variability associated with successional processes, which was not evident on the natural reefs. Fish length data indicated that the artificial reef was providing resources for both juvenile and adults of a number of species. This study demonstrates artificial reefs can provide habitats for a diverse group of fish, but the assemblages are unlikely to mimic those on natural reefs. We have also shown that longer term monitoring periods, covering multiple years are required to gain a robust understanding of the response of fish to reef deployment. This information can be used to understand the benefits and limitations of future artificial reef deployments.

Distinguishing resident from transient species along marine artificial reefs

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (7) ◽  
pp. 1297-1303
Author(s):  
Etienne Boisnier ◽  
Tatsuyuki Sagawa ◽  
Teruhisa Komatsu ◽  
Norimasa Takagi
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblage ◽  
Efficient Solution ◽  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Artificial Reefs ◽  
Transient Species ◽  
Resident Species ◽  
Reef Fish Assemblage ◽  
Long Time

Even if artificial reef studies heavily refer to the distinction between resident and transient species, there is still no widely-shared available method to distinguish objectively these two groups. Such an absence makes any comparison between studies difficult. This study aims to test whether the four objective distinction methods successfully applied to a 21-year-long time-series on fish assemblage in an English estuary may be as successful when applied to marine artificial reefs. For such a purpose, we tested each distinction tool separately with reference to four different artificial reef fish assemblage datasets. Three of them were drawn from the literature. Results indicate that none of these tools, used either individually or collectively, provide an efficient solution to distinguish resident species for the four datasets considered. We suggest that one of the major reasons for this failure may lie in the relative sampling size. Nonetheless, as these four datasets are representative of the datasets generally reported in the literature, tools capable of distinguishing reliably and efficiently resident from transient species along artificial reefs have yet to be developed. However, such a development requires fish residence to be previously and accurately defined by artificial reef scientists and managers.

Marine Artificial Reef Research and Development: Integrating Fisheries Management Objectives

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Juvenile Fish ◽  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Artificial Reefs ◽  
Fine Sediments ◽  
Management Objectives ◽  
Continental Shelves ◽  
Fractal Characteristics ◽  
Natural Reefs

<em>Abstract</em>.—This paper focuses on interactions between reefs, fisheries, and their management and discusses the relationship between reef fish and their habitat. Hard bottom is much less extensive than fine sediments on most continental shelves but supports epifauna/flora as cover for reef fish and serves as habitat for their prey species. Corals, epifauna, and macroflora on natural reefs function as feeding, shelter, and aggregation sites and often have fractal characteristics. Size frequencies of catches from unfished banks may reflect the aggregate of crevice size spectra present, and this influences growth and natural mortality rates at size. It is suggested that migration is initiated when juvenile fish outgrow cover in nursery areas, which only offered predator protection at smaller sizes. Juveniles are then forced to move further offshore where cover for protecting larger reef fishes is often more available. Large cavities are rare on most natural outcrops or reefs, but these attract large fish and artificial reefs are often designed to have large cavities needed by mature reef fishes. Once artificial reefs are located by fishermen, large, resident fishes are readily captured. Unless some offshore reefs or refugia are protected, spawning potential could be affected.

scholarly journals Assessment of the Performance of an Artificial Reef Made of Modular Elements through Small Scale Experiments

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Dea Cardenas-Rojas ◽  
Edgar Mendoza ◽  
Mireille Escudero ◽  
Manuel Verduzco-Zapata
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Artificial Reefs ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Beach Profile ◽  
Transmission Coefficients ◽  
Wave Flume ◽  
Ecological Performance ◽  
Limited Success ◽  
Hydrodynamic Function ◽  
Natural Reefs

Artificial reefs have proven to be an optimal and effective solution in stabilizing coastlines around the world. They are submerged structures that imitate the protection service provided by natural reefs accomplishing the functions of dissipating wave energy and protecting beach morphology, but also being an ecological solution. In this paper, 2D small-scale experiments were performed to analyze the hydrodynamic, morphological, and ecological behavior of an artificial reef constructed of modular elements. Two typical beach-dune profiles were constructed in a wave flume over which two locations of an artificial reef were tested. From these tests, transmission coefficients were obtained as well as the beach profile response to the presence of the artificial reef. These results are used to discuss about the hydrodynamic, morphological, and ecological performance of the artificial reef. The proposed artificial reef showed good morphological performance while its hydrodynamic function had limited success. In turn, the ecologic performance was theoretically addressed.

scholarly journals Using ecological evidence to refine approaches to deploying offshore artificial reefs for recreational fisheries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Blount ◽  
Valeriya Komyakova ◽  
Lachlan Barnes ◽  
Marcus Lincoln Smith ◽  
Dilys Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Artificial Reefs ◽  
Recreational Fisheries ◽  
Fishing Activity ◽  
Ecological Literature ◽  
Optimal Shapes ◽  
Natural Reef ◽  
Quantitative Indicators ◽  
Natural Reefs

Artificial reefs have many applications but are best known for their deployments to enhance recreational fisheries by creating new habitat in areas where natural reef is otherwise limited. The expectation is that fish assemblages will take up residence on artificial reefs and that these assemblages will become at least similar, if not more diverse and abundant, to those on natural reefs. Although designed, purpose-built artificial reefs are becoming more widely used in support of recreational fisheries and many of the historic issues have been resolved, conservation practitioners and managers still face challenges as to the type, number, and arrangement of structures and where to deploy them to maximize benefits and minimize risks. The ecological literature was reviewed to develop and enhance contemporary principles of artificial reef best practices for utilization. Our review identified optimal shapes, vertical relief, void spaces, and unit arrangements for increasing volumes and diversity of catch to recreational fishers and we provide a tool for identifying the least constrained areas for artificial reef deployment. We suggest; (a) monitoring of noncatch motivators in combination with quantitative indicators of the fishing activity (e.g., catch rate and effort) will provide the best understanding of success or failure of an artificial reef deployment; (b) choosing target species for informing purpose-built artificial reef designs to be reef-associated, demersal, philopatric, territorial, and obligatory reef species that are desired by local recreational fishers; and (c) considering the ecosystem services provided by artificial reefs beyond those associated with recreational fishing.

scholarly journals Influence of Levantine Artificial Reefs on the fish assemblage of the surrounding seabed

2009 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. EDELIST ◽  
E. SPANIER
Keyword(s):  
Fish Assemblage ◽  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Artificial Reefs ◽  
Hard Substrate ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Main Species ◽  
Commercially Important ◽  
Lessepsian Migrants ◽  
Siganus Rivulatus

Four Artificial Reef (AR) units were deployed at a 20m depth on a flat hard substrate 3 km west of Haifa, Israel and then surveyed for fish for 12 months. AR units supported 20 times the biomass of control quadrates and their enrichment impact was still significant at a radius of 13m away from units. The 13m values were also significantly higher than those of quadrates adjacent to units, suggesting the existence of a halo of relative depletion within the outer enrichment halo. The main species contributing to this pattern was the migrant herbivore Siganus rivulatus. A decrease in grazing resources is thus suggested as an explanation for creation of this halo. The most consistent AR residents were also Lessepsian migrants - Sargocentron rubrum, nocturnal predators which displayed high microhabitat fidelity and a steady increase in density. The 6 species of migrants recorded accounted for 65.3% of the commercially exploitable biomass and 25.2% of the specimens in the AR site. Other constant AR residents were the groupers Epinephelus costae and Epinephelus marginatus, which are rare and commercially important species. Site protection from fishing and storms were found to be of utmost importance, and design and deployment considerations are discussed.

Marine Artificial Reef Research and Development: Integrating Fisheries Management Objectives

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Fisheries Management ◽  
Fish Assemblage ◽  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Trophic Group ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Trophic Groups ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Reef Fish Assemblage ◽  
Management Objectives ◽  
Species Specific

<em>Abstract</em>.—Most artificial reef deployments to date have been directed toward fish assemblage enhancement, with only a few that are fisheries- or species-specific. The ostensible rationale for this approach is that when the artificial reef fish assemblage increases in a given area, the component target species will also increase. This premise also implies that the target species is characteristically reef- or structure-associated. Targeted species may not be niche-specific with regard to their association with reef attributes; however, trophic groups may be niche generalists for a suite of reef attributes. Artificial reef designs could be directed toward trophic groups and not individual species or the entire assemblage. This would allow more efficient optimization of artificial reef designs directed toward generalized life history features common among species within a trophic group. The delineation of species according to reef niche should include attributes based on trophic features that will allow optimal management through trophic-group-oriented artificial reef deployments. If successful, trophic groups within an assemblage could be more efficiently managed to allow the full integration of artificial reefs into fisheries management on a worldwide basis. Thus, the application of artificial reef design principles could become universal for targeted trophic groups.

scholarly journals Artificial reef along theFrench Mediterranean coastline: toward innovative integrated biodiversity management

2020 ◽  
pp. 309-315
Author(s):  
Jessica Salaün ◽  
Sylvain Pioch ◽  
Jean-Claude Dauvin
Keyword(s):  
Human Activities ◽  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Ecological Engineering ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Artificial Reefs ◽  
Coastal Zones ◽  
Human Pressure ◽  
Biodiversity Management ◽  
Ecological Objectives

Coastal zones are subjected to human pressure and it is necessary to protect and manage these productive and sensitive ecosystems. Artificial Reefs (AR) are relevant tools to overcome these challenges. For nearly a decade they have been used in ecological engineering in order to restore specific habitat functionalities. In the meantime, they are also employed to manage human activities. The review of the latest projects on the French Mediterranean coast shows that apart from the ecological objectives, AR are also social tools that could help to enlarge an integrated approach of an ecosystem.

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