Guidelines for Marine Artificial Reef Materials, Second Edition

esearch, and experimentation with various materials, including designed structures (Bohnsack
1987).
Experimentation and small-scale deployment of specifically designed artificial reef structures began
in the United States in the late 1970s, and continues to the present. While secondary use materials
are still used in the majority of artificial reef construction projects, several coastal states have, in
recent years, begun utilizing designed reef structures to carry out artificial reef development
objectives. This expanded reliance upon designed reef materials is due, in part, to the development
of more readily available, affordable, and seemingly dependable designs, recent increases in funding
levels of some artificial reef programs, and the loss of previously relied-upon supplies of certain
secondary use materials. Whether using designed materials or secondary use materials, it is likely
that artificial reef development will continue at a pace that early activists would not have predicted,
a situation that clearly requires examination and oversight.
1.4 National Artificial Reef Plan
The National Fishing Enhancement Act (Act) was passed by Congress and signed into law in 1984,
and brought attention to artificial reefs in a broader context of planning and responsibility than had
previously been embraced. The Act called for, among other things, the development of a long term
National Artificial Reef Plan (National Plan, Stone 1985). The National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) was given the lead in the development of the National Plan, which was completed and
adopted in 1985. One of the most important sections of the National Plan discusses general criteria
for materials that are to be used in the development of artificial reefs, including function,
compatibility, durability and stability, and availability.
Each of the four criteria described below is vital when considering the use of any material for
artificial reef application. Selecting a material because it meets one or two of the criteria will most
likely result in a less-than-successful effort. Materials should be selected because they help achieve
the primary goal for a reef project, generally creating habitat for marine fish and invertebrate
organisms. Taking the below criteria into consideration, cost and availability of materials are also
important factors in determining what materials to use. Materials that are available but are not costeffective
are of limited value to a program. Materials that are inexpensive but scarce make artificial
reef development difficult. The right combination of availability and affordability is critical for
cost-effective artificial reef development and management.
1.4.1 Function
This criterion is related to how well a specific material functions in attracting and holding aquatic
organisms. It is important that a material provide habitat for small organisms, attaching epifauna,
and larger species that are important to recreational and commercial fisheries. If it is known that
specific materials do not provide suitable habitat for the establishment of marine communities, or
do not support the goal for which an artificial reef is being developed, the function of that material
should be evaluated and alternatives considered.
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