Hydroacoustic Substrate Classification Accuracy and Faunal Assemblage Variation Between Artificial and Natural Rock Regions: Bear Lake, Utah/Idaho

Research designed to elucidate artificial reef efficacy in attraction and production is lacking. Delineation of the rock reef habitat, coupled with faunal patterns of substrate use within artificial and natural reef regions, will allow elucidation of the potential of artificial reefs to attract sport fishes, and function as surrogate natural habitat for the conservation of endemic fish species. We compared faunal assemblages and habitat complexity between artificial and natural reefs to access the efficacy of artificial reefs in conservation of the native community, and attraction of sport fishes. We used hydroacoustics to map artificial and natural rock reefs within Bear Lake. We compared the accuracy of Visual Bottom Typer (VBT, BioSonics, Seattle, WA) software to observed substrate in three regions of varying slope and rock complexity within Bear Lake. VBT demonstrated an ability to distinguish substrates regardless of rock complexity and slope, although inaccuracies were present. VBT biased classification towards predominant substrate in the survey regions. We compared benthic invertebrate and fish catch in natural and artificial reef regions to assess the utility of artificial reefs in fisheries management. We assessed the potential of artificial reefs to function as foraging habitat for endemic fishes within Bear Lake. We compared benthic invertebrate taxa abundances and diversity between one region of artificial reefs, and two natural reefs in spring and summer. The artificial reefs hosted prey consumed by endemic Bonneville whitefish and Bear Lake sculpin. We assessed the potential of artificial reefs to function in attraction of sport fishes, and conservation of endemic fishes. We compared differences in fish catch per unit effort (CPUE) and diversity on rock and soft substrate between one artificial and two natural reef regions. Sport fishes attraction to the artificial reefs was minimal. Winter cisco and whitefish used the artificial reefs similarly to natural reefs. Fall lake trout, crayfish, and yellow perch used artificial and natural reefs dissimilarly

Feeding Guilds Among Artificial-Reef Fishes in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

To examine the diets of 25 demersal artificial-reef-associated fish species, 540 fishes were collected with spears and hand-nets off Panama City, Florida, in the summer of 1993. Fishes were preserved whole in the field. Stomach contents were later analyzed by frequency of occurrence, numerical abundance, and percent volume. These measures were combined into an Index of Relative Importance (IRI). The data set was then analyzed with cluster and detrended correspondence (DCA) analyses. Forage items of the reef fishes were dominated by fishes, xanthid crabs, unidentified items, squids, polychaetes, and penaeid shrimps. The DCA and cluster analysis revealed that these 25 artificial reef fishes could be organized into seven feeding guilds: lower structure pickers, ambush predators, lower structure crustacean predators, upper structure pickers, upper structure predators, water column pickers, and reef-associated open-water feeders. All of the demersal gamefish in this study were in the same feeding guild (i.e., reef-associated openwater feeders). Species in this feeding guild were associated with artificial reefs diurnally and foraged away from reefs nocturnally. Our data indicate that many important artificial-reef-associated fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico obtain most of their energy foraging away from the artificial reef structure

Coral Fishes Community on the Artificial Coral Reefs of Kareko Waters, North Lembeh Island District, Bitung City, North Sulawesi

The aim of this research is to determine the species richness, individual abundance, and the ecology index of the coral fishes on the artificial reef of Kareko waters, District of North Lembeh - Bitung City. The data is collected using “Visual Census” technique by scuba diving. The amount of the reef fishes found in the artificial coral reefs were 53 species. The abundance species in the artificial reefs which made from metal were 34 species and which made from concrete were 35 species. The total of number individuals of coral fishes from 47 species is 210.50 individuals/30m2. The total density was 7,017 individuals/m2. The highest relative density on iron-made reefs was found in Dascyllus trimaculatus (15.73%) and and which made from concrete were Dascyllus reticulatus (10.85%). Based on H', H'max, and H'min, the diversity Index of coral fishes in both artificial reefs including high

Estuarine Artificial Reefs to Enhance Seagrass Planting and Provide Fish Habitat

Small 25-m2 artificial reef sets were deployed 1 m deep in Choctawhatchee Bay, FL, to determine the ability of reefs to aid in the establishment of newly planted Ruppia maritima (widgeon grass) while providing habitat for estuarine fishes. Seagrass survival and coverage were examined for reef configurations and compared with control plots. Visual surveys conducted from June 1996 to May 1997 indicated that the artificial reefs had no effect on the survivorship or growth of the planted R. maritima. The artificial reefs attracted juvenile and young adult fishes and had significantly more species, higher diversity, more individuals, and greater total biomass of fishes per area than did the nonreef controls. The 22 fish species observed at the reefs were typical estuarine residents in the area. Young gray snapper, Lutjanus griseus (a recreationally and commercially important species), was abundant at the reefs. Although the artificial reefs did not increase seagrass planting success, these artificial reefs may increase the number of fishes surviving to adulthood by providing protective habitat

Artificial reef research

Ariificial reefs are man-made underwater structures that provide habitat for many types of fishes. Fishes are attracted towards artificial reefs because the reef shelter the fish from predators and make good feeding sites. The creation of man-made structures to enhance marine resources is the basis of a specialised branch of marine technology known as artificial reef development

Artificial reefs

Artificial reefs are natural or manmade external objects or stable structures placed in the sea to provide an artificial fish habitat and thereby to attract, aggregate and regenerate fishery resources. Artificial reefs are used worldwide to increase the productivity and fisheries potential of relatively barren or unproductive areas. Artificial reefs are also used as effective fish attracting devices during certain times of the year. Reefs when properly located and structured not only concentrate fishes but also increase the biological productivity of the area. Reefs also often serve as spawning and nursery areas for fishes and shellfishe

Coral Fishes Community On The Artificial Coral Reefs Of Kareko Waters, North Lembeh Island District, Bitung City, North Sulawesi

The aim of this research is to determine the species richness, individual abundance, and the ecology index of the coral fishes on the artificial reef of Kareko waters,  District of North Lembeh - Bitung City. The data is collected using “Visual Census” technique by scuba diving. The amount of the reef fishes found in the artificial coral reefs were 53 species. The abundance species in the artificial reefs which made from metal were 34 species and which made from concrete were 35 species. The total of number individuals of coral fishes from 47 species is 210.50 individuals/30m2. The total density was 7,017 individuals/m2. The highest relative density on iron-made reefs was found in Dascyllus trimaculatus (15.73%) and and which made from concrete were Dascyllus reticulatus (10.85%).  Based on H’, H’max, and H’min, the diversity Index  of coral fishes in both artificial reefs including high.Keywords : Coral Fishes, Artificial Reef, Kareko ABSTRAKTujuan penelitian ini yaitu untuk mengetahui kekayaan spesies, kelimpahan individu, dan indeks ekologi ikan karang pada terumbu buatan di Perairan Kareko. Kecamatan Lembeh Utara, Kota Bitung. Pengambilan data dilakukan dengan menggunakan teknik “Sensus Visual” dengan melakukan penyelaman SCUBA. Jumlah spesies ikan karang yang ditemukan pada terumbu buatan yaitu 53 spesies. Kekayaan spesies di terumbu buatan yang terbuat dari besi berjumlah 34 spesies, sedangkan di terumbu buatan beton berjumlah 35 spesies. Kelimpahan individu total ikan karang dari 47 spesies yaitu 210,50 individu/30 m2 sedangkan kepadatan/densitas total adalah 7,017 individu/m2. Kepadatan relative tertinggi untuk terumbu buatan besi ditemukan pada jenis Dascyllus trimaculatus (15,73%) dan untuk terumbu buatan beton ditemukan pada jenis Dascyllus reticulatus (10,85%). Berdasarkan nilai H’, H’max, and H’min, indeks keanekeragaman ikan karang pada kedua jenis terumbu buatan tergolong tinggi.Keywords : Coral Fishes, Artificial Reef, Karek

Growth and Survival of Nearshore Fishes in Lake Michigan

This report includes 2007 field season results of a project that began in August 1998. This project’s purpose is to identify factors that contribute to and determine yearclass strength of fishes in nearshore waters of Lake Michigan. This research focuses on Illinois waters of Lake Michigan and is needed because limited data exist on year-class strength and recruitment of nearshore fishes. The focus of this research is to describe patterns of year-class strength and to relate these patterns to a set of factors that allow managers to better predict inter-annual fluctuations in fish populations. After this project was funded, we learned that an artificial reef would be built at one of our nearshore sites. Little quantitative information exists on the role such artificial reefs play in the attraction and recruitment success of fishes in freshwater. Consequently, we added the artificial reef site (plus a nearby reference site) to our sampling protocol to identify how the addition of an artificial reef might attract sport fishes, affect recruitment success, and assess other possible effects on the nearshore fish community.Illinois Department of Natural Resources F-138 R-11unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Artificial reefs habitat enhancement and increasing fisheries potential

Artificial reefs are used throughout the world to increase the fisheries poter\tial of barren or relatively unproductive areas. Artificial reefs also act as effective fish attracting devices during certain times of the year. Reefs when properly located and structured not only concentrate fishes, but also increase the biological productivity of the area. Formation of rough rigid bottom habitat with artificial reefs of diverse materials increases the surface area necessary for fish food organisms. The reefs also often serve as spawning habitat and shelter for fishes and shellfishes

Artificial reefs

At Tuticorin and Minicoy observations were made on the experimental artificial reefs constructed by the Scientists of CMFRI during 1988-'92, whereas at Vizhinjam the artificial reefs constructed by the local artisanal fishermen were monitored by the Scientists of the Institute. Good congregation of fishes was observed in the vicinity of the artificial reefs at all the three Centers. In the experimental artificial reef constructed at Tuticorin, four distinct groups of fishes were recognized based on their mode of attraction towards the reef structures. At Vizhinjam, an increase in the landing offish was noticed in the commercial catches. At Minicoy, settlement of pearl oyster spat and growth of several species of seaweeds were recorded