Artificial reef

Abstract

Objects of various materials, shapes, and dimensions have been deployed in nearly every aquatic environment in all parts of the world to serve as artificial reefs. Few artificial reefs have been deployed in estuaries. Nevertheless, oyster shell material, deployed to improve oyster settlement can be considered an artificial reef or at least an artificial substrate that behaves similar to other objects deployed as artificial reefs. Artificial reefs have received considerable attention among aquatic scientists and natural resource managers to facilitate fisheries. However, there remain several issues relative to the attraction versus production nature of artificial reefs that need to be resolved before they become part of a regularly prescribed option for estuarine resource management.