Artificial reef creation damages environment, damages sought

The Hawaii state Deparment of Land and Resources is seeking damages against a company whose artifical reef creation actually damaged nearly 5,000 living corals.

 According to a department document, American Marine dropped 125 Z-shaped concrete slabs onto Keawakapu Reef on Dec. 2. The damage covered 312 square meters of living reef well outside the area marked for the slabs.

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Artificial reefs not shown to increase regional fish production

An academic research concludes that despite their popularity

"...reef construction may have potentially deleterious effects on reef fish populations including (1) increased fishing effort and catch rates (2) boosting the potential for overexploitation of stocks by increasing access to previously unexploited stock segments and, (3) increasing the probability of overexploitation by concentrating previously exploited segments of the stock..."

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Is 20,000 sqm of lead paint safe?

``We are alarmed that the vessel will be allowed to be sunk only 1400m offshore with that amount of lead paint in a bed of sand that feeds our beach with sand.’’

No Ship Action group argues that ship with 20,000sqm of lead paint should not be sunk as an artificial reef.

Read more here http://express-advocate-gosford.whereilive.com.au/news/story/new-twist-in-adelaide-scuttling-as-govt-goes-to-tribunal/

Clarifying opposition to an artificial reef project

Jeff Lee implies that the opposition is a small group and that this is a not-in-my-backyard issue. Wrong. The largest property owner in the area, the United Church, has run a children's summer camp on the west side of Halkett Bay for generations and is opposed, as are the Georgia Strait Alliance, the Islands Trust and more than 600 residents and users of Howe Sound

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Opposition+warship+sinking+stronger+than+portrayed/3537321/story.html#ixzz13PUJlF9F

Video on India's artificial reef project

10th anniversary of the sinking of the Yukon raises old questions about artificial reefs

The 10th anniversary of the sinking of the Yukon raises old questions about artificial reefs in San Diego.

“By and large, I think we can safely say that intentionally sunken ships don’t really provide much in the way of habitat value,” said Sarah Christie at the California Coastal Commission. “The fundamental question for decision-makers is whether we want to view our ocean floor as a depository for scrap metal … or preserve it in its natural condition.” 

Read more: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jul/13/diving-lessons-sinking-yukon/

Artificial reefs & the red snapper ban

Creation of more habitat is suggested as a solution to declining red snapper population. But will it actually make the problem worse?

A point of contention among scientists, though, is whether reefs are beneficial for the environment. Some studies say reefs can provide spots for fish nurseries and lead to increased populations, while other studies show artificial reefs merely draw fish from a large region to a focal point for fisherman to pluck them out of the water -- like fish in a barrel, only underwater -- exacerbating overfishing.

read more here:
http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/outdoors/fishing/2010/06/28/ramping-up-reefs.html