In the guide below, we list some of the potential pros and cons of artificial reefs.
Summary – Pros & Cons Of Artificial Reefs
Firstly, What Are Artificial Reefs?
Potential Pros
May Provide A Partial Solution To Degrading Or Depleting Natural Coral Reefs
There’s Several Different Types Of Artificial Reef Options & Technologies Available
Already Used In Different Locations Around The World
Some Reports List The Features Of Artificial Reefs That Have Been Shown To Work
May Benefit Marine Life Populations In Various Ways
May Help Specifically With Coral Growth
May Protect Beaches & Coastlines From Coastal Erosion
May Have Local Social & Economic Benefits
May Benefit Divers & Snorklers
May Benefit Fishermen
May Benefit Surfers
May Sometimes Discourage Potentially Destructive Fishing Practices
Some Artificial Reef Structures & Items Can Be Treated To Prevent Waste Pollution Before Going Into The Ocean
Can Help Repurpose Certain Waste Or Items That Otherwise Would Be Discarded
Some Artificial Reefs Might Be Reasonably Resilient & Durable To Certain Ocean Issues & External Forces
Some Artificial Reefs Might Be A Better Alternative For Some Functions Compared To Breakwaters
Electrified Artificial Reefs May Have Their Own Specific Benefits
Other Artificial Reef Technology May Have Their Own Specific Benefits
Potential Cons
Artificial Reefs Might Be Only One Solution Of Many In Maintaining Healthier Oceans, & They May Be Limited In Some Ways
Some Reports Question If There’s Adequate Evidence That Artificial Reefs Are Actually A Net Benefit
Some Of The Claims Made About Some Of The Benefits Of Artificial Reefs Might Be Inaccurate Or Misleading
May Not Be Good For Coral Restoration In Some Instances
Can Lead To Some Forms Of Waste Pollution In The Ocean
Some Of The Initial Drawbacks Of Artificial Reefs Might Lead To Consequential Drawbacks
Some Artificial Reef Projects Have Failed
Some Artificial Reefs Have Been Removed Only A Short Time After Being Installed
Regulations Can Be An Obstacle For Artificial Reefs In Some Regions
Artificial Reefs Have Been Linked To Illegal Activity In Some Regions
Electrified Reefs May Have Unique Limitations Or Drawbacks
Potential Pros Of Artificial Reefs
May Provide A Partial Solution To Degrading Or Depleting Natural Coral Reefs
By fulfilling some of the functions that natural reefs do, artificial reefs may provide part of the solution to natural reefs degrading or dying.
There’s Several Different Types Of Artificial Reef Options & Technologies Available
Artificial reefs can be made from different materials and objects, and they can also be different sizes and shapes
Some companies even design, manufacture and deploy their own artificial reef products or systems
Already Used In Different Locations Around The World
Non electrified artificial reefs are used in many locations around the world – intentionally sunk ships are a common example of this
And, electrified reef projects are installed in over 20 countries around the world according to some reports
Some Reports List The Features Of Artificial Reefs That Have Been Shown To Work
newheavenreefconservation.org lists these things as (paraphrased) the artificial reef being stable, being made from durable and non toxic materials, having a surface suitable for corals and sponges, having adequate structural complexity for fish, and having either the right design to blend in or stand out
May Benefit Marine Life Populations In Various Ways
Artificial reefs may provide a habitat and feeding opportunities for a range of marine life, which may lead to the rehabilitations or growth of some species and populations
In particular, they may provide a surface for coral and sponges to attach to
Artificial reefs may provide a habitat for algae, small invertebrates, and plankton
This provides a food source for small fish
And, small fish provide a food source for larger predators
In addition to potentially helping grow marine life colonies and populations, artificial reefs may provide protection and hiding spots for some marine life too
As one potential example of this, the Thunderbolt sunken ship, located in Florida, is now home to a range of marine life
May Help Specifically With Coral Growth
Coral may grow on some types of artificial reefs
This might particularly be desirable in areas where coral has previously been depleted or degraded
May Protect Beaches & Coastlines From Coastal Erosion
Artificial reefs might help reduce or slow coastal erosion (and in the process, indirectly help with beach nourishment), in a couple of key ways
One key way might be to break waves and dissipate their energy further out in the ocean (when waves hit the artificial reef structure), as opposed to allowing waves to hit coastlines with more energy or as more fully formed waves
Another key way might be reefs holding or trapping sediment on beaches as opposed to letting tides pull sand and sediments back out to sea
wikipedia.org notes that shore protection reefs have help protect beaches from erosion and natural events like tsunamis, and also saved several buildings on the coastline in the Maldives that would have been impacted by erosion
May Have Local Social & Economic Benefits
Such as providing more fishing opportunities (because more marine life is attracted to the area), more tourism opportunities, and more recreational opportunities that reefs can provide
These things may all lead to more income opportunities for local too
oceanservice.noaa.gov makes this point too
May Benefit Divers & Snorklers
Divers and snorklers already frequent artificial reefs in several locations across the world
May Benefit Fishermen
Increased marine life and fish populations in some areas where artificial reefs are installed may benefit fishermen that frequent the areas
May Benefit Surfers
Artificial surfing reefs can be designed differently to multi purpose artificial reefs, and in some instances, artificial reefs may contribute to more desirable conditions or waves for surfing
Artificial surfing reefs ma be designed with the intention to form breaking waves, and also to create larger waves, as well as increase the number of surfing says in the year
Artificial surfing reefs have been made in locations in the US and Australia
May Sometimes Discourage Potentially Destructive Fishing Practices
Such as using trawling nets and bottom trawling
Artificial reefs may act as an obstacle to these practices in some areas, or to the use of this type of equipment, if equipment can get caught and damaged
Some Artificial Reef Structures & Items Can Be Treated To Prevent Waste Pollution Before Going Into The Ocean
For example, some vehicles dropped in the ocean that form a part of an artificial reef may be treated beforehand to remove contaminants, and may have rusting or loose parts such as number plates removed
Can Help Repurpose Certain Waste Or Items That Otherwise Would Be Discarded
Some waste items or materials would usually be discarded, but can instead be re-used or re-purposed in artificial reefs
A few examples are retired subway train carriages, or cars that have been written off or significantly damaged without an opportunity for salvage
Some Artificial Reefs Might Be Reasonably Resilient & Durable To Certain Ocean Issues & External Forces
For example, some artificial reefs might be able to withstand conditions that would kill natural reefs, and some reefs may withstand storms and natural events
Some Artificial Reefs Might Be A Better Alternative For Some Functions Compared To Breakwaters
Some breakwater structures may actually lead to an increase in wave force/energy, and therefore worsen coastal erosion by exposing coastlines to more force and also increasing the amount of sand and sediment carried off coastlines
wikipedia.org notes that some breakwater structures lead to a doubling of wave force, and they may also fail over time
Artificial reefs on the other hand may sometimes be more effective at reducing wave force
Electrified Artificial Reefs May Have Their Own Specific Benefits
A few examples might include:
– Coral potentially being able to grow at a faster rate once it’s attached to the metal structure than what it would grow naturally
wikipedia.org indicates that: ‘Electrolysis of electric reefs enhances coral growth, reproduction and ability to resist environmental stress … [and] some [coral grows] three to five times faster than normal and soon the reef takes on the appearance and utility of a natural reef ecosystem’
wikipedia.org references two different studies that might provide some evidence of this being the case.
– May help restore coral
wikipedia.org indicates that electrified reefs can ‘[… help with restoration from physical damage by as much as 20 times]’ compared to regular conditions and reefs
– Being able to withstand certain ocean conditions and stresses that would negatively impact natural coral reefs
wikipedia.org also indicates that electric reefs in the Maldives have survived a warming and bleaching event that killed most of the natural reef corals in the areas
But, electrified reefs may also help coral survive diseases, and different types of pollution
The Biorock that electrified reefs use might be one of the only methods that can sustainable natural coral species using basic elements
– Being able to withstand storms or natural events that would damage or degrade natural reefs and coral
For example, wikipedia.org indicates electrified reefs in different parts of the world have survived hurricanes and tsunamis
– ‘… the process [of making and installing electric reefs] could generate building materials …’ (wikipedia.org)
– May repel some sharks away with an electric field
Some see this as a benefit, and some see it as a negative
Other Artificial Reef Technology May Have Their Own Specific Benefits
Two examples of reef technology with their own specific benefits might include Reef Balls, and also MOREEF modules
Potential Cons Of Artificial Reefs
Artificial Reefs Might Be Only One Solution Of Many In Maintaining Healthier Oceans, & They May Be Limited In Some Ways
newheavenreefconservation.org discusses how (paraphrased) artificial reefs only work in areas where water quality is suitable for coral to grow, and also how they are only one of several solutions that should be deployed, such as ocean rules and regulations, reducing threats, and reducing unsustainable fishing practices
Some Reports Question If There’s Adequate Evidence That Artificial Reefs Are Actually A Net Benefit
Some reports indicate that there’s either not enough evidence, or the evidence isn’t strong enough or credible enough that artificial reefs provide more benefits than drawbacks, or, that they provide more benefits than natural reefs
In their guide, newheavenreefconservation.org list things that don’t work with artificial reefs, such as trash and potentially toxic materials, and small and unsecured structures
Some Of The Claims Made About Some Of The Benefits Of Artificial Reefs Might Be Inaccurate Or Misleading
As one example, several reports indicate that artificial reefs help increase or replenish marine life populations in the area
However, other reports indicate that this might be inaccurate, as most marine life may simply migrate from other nearby areas, to the area where the artificial reef is installed
The end result is that marine live have moved, and not increased or replenished
wikipedia.org indicates that ‘Far more than half the amount of biomass found on artificial reefs is attracted from other areas rather than developing there [and …] artificial reefs do not increase fish populations. Instead they operate as fish aggregating devices (FADs) bringing in fish from other reefs’
Additionally, marine life moving to one place may in some instances disrupt ecosystems in other parts of the ocean, as well as lead to overfishing in areas where artificial reefs are deployed
May Not Be Good For Coral Restoration In Some Instances
On some artificial reefs, coral may not grow as fast as they would in a natural reef habitat
Can Lead To Some Forms Of Waste Pollution In The Ocean
When tires aren’t tied down on artificial reefs, they can float away or wash up on beaches. These tires then have to be removed from the ocean or beaches as waste
Additionally, some materials and objects used to make artificial reefs like vehicles may contain paint (which can be toxic), contaminants, microplastics, and other forms of waste that may pollute the ocean
Some Of The Initial Drawbacks Of Artificial Reefs Might Lead To Consequential Drawbacks
For example, artificial reefs that aren’t constructed in a secure manner may release debris
Not only does this debris become waste pollution, but it may float away and damage nearby natural coral structures and reefs
It can also cost money to remove these debris from the environment
Some Artificial Reef Projects Have Failed
One example of this was an artificial reef designed and deployed in the UK to improve surfing in a particular region
The reef project failed, and cost roughly 3 million pounds
Some Artificial Reefs Have Been Removed Only A Short Time After Being Installed
Some artificial reefs were removed only a few years or a short time after deployment
Pratte’s Reef in Southern California for example was only deployed for 8 years before being removed
Some question the ROI on temporary artificial reef projects
Regulations Can Be An Obstacle For Artificial Reefs In Some Regions
Regulations and even permits in some areas can impact whether artificial reefs can be deployed in the first place, and also the conditions under which they can be deployed
This is the case in some parts of the US
Artificial Reefs Have Been Linked To Illegal Activity In Some Regions
For example, they have been linked to illegal dumping, and even poaching in some areas
oceanservice.noaa.gov provides more details on this
Electrified Reefs May Have Unique Limitations Or Drawbacks
One example is needing a consistent power supply. When power is no longer supplied to an electrified reef, it can become vulnerable
Other examples might include:
– Being reliant on the abundance of minerals in the water for crystal formation, and also climatic conditions
– Repelling some sharks away with an electric field. Some see this as a benefit, and some see it as a negative
Sources
1. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/artificial-reef.html
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_reef
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrified_reef
4. https://www.reefball.org/
5. https://moreef.com/
6. https://newheavenreefconservation.org/marine-blog/147-artificial-reefs-what-works-and-what-doesn-t
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