Artificial Reefs: Man-Made Dive Sites And Their Impact

Artificial reefs help scientists test new hypotheses and investigate marine environments. Manufacturers create reasonably priced, readily used reefs from either natural or synthetic materials. Among end users are scuba divers and fisherman who value the additional fishing possibilities reefs offer. To record reef performance, non-governmental groups also run volunteer or citizen-science-based projects.

Environmental Impacts

Well planned artificial reefs could be a significant component of sustainable development in a world where habitat loss and biodiversity degradation are continuous and people are rushing to view sensitive sites before they go (so-called extinction tourism). These structures draw fish species and supply food for consumers by giving hard surfaces on which algae, other plants, and animals can cling. For instance, the scuttled ship "Spiegel Grove" in Florida attracted a range of underwater life and attracted big numbers of divers annually to the area. It is unclear, meantime, whether the fish discovered on manmade reefs would not exist in the same location without the reef or whether they are only drawn to it, therefore lessening demand on natural reefs. Thus, education is fundamental for the development of these systems. Local rules requiring dive businesses to send their unskilled or new divers on man-made sites instead of natural reefs could be beneficial.

Social Impacts

Artificial reefs pique the curiosity of many people, from scientists to resource managers and end users. Every one influences the reef system both directly and indirectly. The diversity of fish and other life found in manmade reef installations makes end users—like scuba divers—satisfied. They value especially the simplicity of locating particular species at these locations. At these areas, divers can learn a lot about their own diving tactics including how vertical fin motions are more likely to affect a reef below them than lateral movement. They can also check their capacity to remain within a reasonable distance from the substrate. Many times, the cultural or historical value of locations draws visitors in. The submerged New York City subway Redbird trains, for instance, draw a variety of species, including sea urchins and echinoderms—feather stars, chocolate chip sea stars, and granular sea stars. Those involved in volunteer or citizen-science-based projects might be kept inspired to keep an eye on these sites and send comments to their operators.

Economic Impacts

Artificial reef building and deployment call for a lot of funds. Particularly if they are recycled from former ships or other equipment, the materials utilised can be costly. Furthermore, complete cleaning and stripping of the buildings is necessary to prevent pollutants from seeping into the ecology and endangering marine life. Recreational divers and fishers who like diving, fishing, and seeing marine life make up most end users of artificial reefs. Nonetheless, the local population gains from the financial boost new development and maintenance create as well. Generally speaking, artificial reefs are located in places where there is little or no natural reef structure yet demand for recreational fishing and/or dive tourism. Fishing boats, commercial fishermen, and snorkelers will find many of these places conveniently near piers, marinas, and boat ramps. By adding more of these places, current natural reefs may be relieved of some pressure.

Habitat Impacts

An undersea construction that replics natural habitat is a man-made reef. One might build it from a range of materials, including bridges, concrete, oil rigs, shipwrecks, and building trash. The structures draw lower-level food chain predators enhancing biodiversity by providing surfaces for encrusting creatures to develop on and as a refuge from predators. Artificial reefs are seen favourably by divers since they provide a range of fishing and diving possibilities to draw them away from natural reef locations (Sutton and Bushnell 2007). Many people think the installation of artificial reefs will provide new employment and increase local economic activity where the reefs are located. There is disagreement, meantime, on whether the reef created the fish seen on man-made reefs or merely drew them in. The type of reef, where it is located, and the availability of different habitats resembling the manmade reef could all affect the response.