Do Artificial Coral Reefs Work?
Artificial coral reefs are used globally for tackling coral reef degradation since they provide a stable home for corals and thus a habitat for fish and other marine organisms (1). They can be made from natural or synthetic materials, such as rocks, cinder blocks, wood, or old tires (2), but sunken shipwrecks could be considered artificial reefs, given that they are havens of marine life. The main goals of setting them up are to replenish both habitat diversity and biodiversity while relieving pressure on natural reefs by creating artificial reef diving sites (1). They are designed to last for decades and to withstand tough weather conditions such as storms (3), therefore installation of artificial reefs is a long-term investment into the future of an ecosystem.
Healthy coral reef communities around the world are declining due to climate change, overfishing (which reduces biodiversity), and ocean acidification. Therefore, artificial reefs are important in maintaining reef communities and the abundance of particular marine organisms. They have also been used in fisheries to increase fishing opportunities and make fishing more accessible, cheaper, and less time-consuming (4).
Artificial reefs are economically viable to local communities because they attract tourists and divers to the area by increasing the sites available for snorkelling and diving, as well as making the reef communities more vibrant and bustling with life. Tourism brings money to local businesses and dive centres thus supporting the lives of many. However, artificial reefs can be expensive to build and install, therefore much of this profit may simply be used to break even. Despite this, artificial reefs are the most economical way forward, since declining coral reefs lead to economic loss for the communities and countries.
When comparing artificial reefs to natural reefs, it has been discovered that they are only similar if they have similar structural features, otherwise different communities will remain distinct (5), which could introduce a divide within an ecosystem. Structural features reference texture, spatial orientation, and how complex the structure is (5) and disruption to community structure affects species abundance and the composition of an environment, which can impact the growth and success of growing coral polyps.
A widely acknowledged disadvantage of artificial reefs is that they tackle the effects of a problem (climate change) without tackling the problem itself. However, installing artificial reefs doesn’t stop one from also reducing their impact on global warming and their carbon footprint, it just increases the ways in which they are benefiting the environment around them. I recognise that to permanently save coral reef communities, we must gradually reduce and eventually put a stop to climate change. But, installing artificial reefs may be the way to save the natural reefs that are still healthy and haven’t yet been bleached. The use of artificial reefs and climate conservation strategies should be used in conjunction with each other to achieve the best results and make the most effective progress.
Although, an alternative to artificial reefs is coral restoration, where corals are grown in a ‘nursery’ and then transplanted onto degraded reef sites (6). Artificial reefs are more widely used and accepted than coral restoration, however, there are suggestions that the most effective method of reef maintenance will be to combine both methods and grow corals onto artificial structures while introducing algal grazers (6).
In summary, artificial reefs are tools that conservationists and scientists use to maintain healthy coral reef communities and restore degrading habitats. They are becoming more and more common, hence why I wrote this post: to spread the word and continue the discussion. As the number of artificial reefs increases, the biodiversity of the world’s reefs increases and we can tackle climate change AND keep our reefs alive and healthy at the same time.
References:
New Heaven Reef Conservation Program. Artificial Reefs: What Works and What Doesn’t [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2021 Jul 23]. Available from: https://newheavenreefconservation.org/marine-blog/147-artificial-reefs-what-works-and-what-doesn-t
National Ocean Service. What is an Artificial Reef? [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2021 Jul 23]. Available from: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/artificial-reef.html
Department of Primary Industries. Artificial Reefs [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2021 Jul 23]. Available from: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/resources/artificial-reef
Ehrenfeucht S. Artificial Coral Reefs as a Method of Coral Reef Fish Conservation. Undergraduate Honors Theses. 2014 May; 83.
Perkol-Finkel S, Shashar N, Benayahu Y. Can Artificial Reefs mimic Natural Reef Communities? The Roles of Structural Features and Age. Marine Environmental Research. 2006 Mar 1; 61(2): 121-35.]
Abelson A. Artificial Reefs vs Coral Transplantation as Restoration Tools for Mitigating Coral Reef Deterioration: Benefits, Concerns, and Proposed Guidelines. Bulletin of Marine Science. 2006 Jan 1; 78(1): 151-9.
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