Assessing the Attractive Effects of Floating Artificial Reefs and Combination Reefs on Six Local Marine Species

Abstract

Artificial reefs (ARs) have been advocated for and implemented as management tools for recreational fisheries, species conservation, and habitat replacement; however, the research that includes attracting marine species of floating ARs remains in its early stages. Here, two types of floating ARs were designed to evaluate the attractive effects using the occurrence rate and attracting index for six commercially important species (Lateolabrax maculatus, Liza haematocheila, Sebastes schlegelii, Acanthopagrus schlegelii, Litopenaeus vannamei, and Amphioctopus fangsiao) in the Bohai Bay of China; their combined ARs were meanwhile compared with two variants of artificial seagrass beds (SA and SB) and the traditional double-frame artificial reef (TD). All of the designed ARs were effective in attracting experimental species. The ARs with higher shelter areas (SB and TD) showed a better attracting effect. The efficiency of the ARs in attracting different species depended on their life histories. The bottom-mounted ARs were more efficient in attracting demersal species, while the floating ARs attracted epipelagic fish. In addition, the combined reefs had a better attractive effect than single ARs did. Overall, floating ARs and their combined ARs show the potential to deploy especially for attracting epipelagic fishes, although further study is needed.

Habitat Fragmentation Enhances the Difference between Natural and Artificial Reefs in an Urban Marine Coastal Tract

“…Nevertheless, artificial reefs often become a newly available substrate that is colonized by marine organisms [19]. Besides being coastal defence elements [20], they are recognized as a valuable solution to deter illicit trawling, bolster fish populations, and enhance small-scale coastal fisheries [21][22][23][24]. If the primary goal of artificial reef construction is the creation of additional reef habitat for fish, it should be considered that their assemblages will likely differ significantly from those of adjacent natural reefs, also depending on the rock type of the latter compared to the materials used for the former [25].…”

Numerical Simulation of Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Layered Floating Reefs under Tidal Currents and Waves

“…Through the release test of the floating reef, it is tested that the floating reef of this structure type can maintain the stability of shape and position in a tidal cycle and at a specific water depth. Han et al [16] studied a composite floating reef and concluded that the effect of the composite reef on attracting fish was better than that of a single reef. This provides a new idea for the design of reef structure.…”