Practical guidelines for the use of artificial reefs in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea
Practical guidelines for the use of artificial reefs in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea
Cover picture and design
Cover picture: courtesy of Altan Lok (PhD), Ege University, Fisheries Faculty, Izmir (Turkey) Cover design: Aurora Nastasi
STUDIES AND REVIEWS No. 96 GENERAL FISHERIES COMMISSION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL REEFS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AND THE BLACK SEA
by
Gianna Fabi, Giuseppe Scarcella, Alessandra Spagnolo, Stephen A. Bortone, Eric Charbonnel, Juan J. Goutayer, Naoufel Haddad,
Altan Lok and Michel Trommelen
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Rome, 2015
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.
The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of FAO.
ISBN 978-92-5-108854-8
© FAO, 2015
FAO encourages the use, reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product. Except where otherwise indicated, material may be copied, downloaded and printed for private study, research and teaching purposes, or for use in non-commercial products or services, provided that appropriate acknowledgement of FAO as the source and copyright holder is given and that FAO’s endorsement of users’ views, products or services is not implied in any way.
All requests for translation and adaptation rights, and for resale and other commercial use rights should be made via www.fao.org/contact-us/licence-request or addressed to Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра..
FAO information products are available on the FAO website (www.fao.org/publications) and can be purchased through Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра..
PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT
This publication is part of the Studies and Reviews series of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), which includes scientific and methodological papers on different topics of interest for the GFCM in the field of fisheries and aquaculture. This document contains guidelines on management practices for the planning, siting, construction, anchoring and monitoring of artificial reefs in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. It is intended to provide users, managers and planners with essential information and guidance on some of the most effective methods for enhancing and protecting natural resources while increasing fisheries and aquaculture opportunities. Acknowledging the increasing interest shown by several Mediterranean countries in artificial reefs, the GFCM has agreed to compile up?to?date guidelines with a view to supporting potential artificial reef developers in the set?up, monitoring and management of artificial reefs in Mediterranean and Black Sea coastal waters. These guidelines were presented in January 2012 at the twelfth session of the GFCM Subcommittee on Marine Environment and Ecosystems (SCMEE) and further discussed during a workshop on artificial reefs in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, held on the occasion of the tenth International Conference on Artificial Reefs and Aquatic Habitats (September 2013, Izmir, Turkey). This document is the fruit of cooperation between several scientists from different countries having specific experience in artificial reefs and it builds upon the recommendations included in international conventions and previous guidelines.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This publication is the result of a team work and could not have been completed without the precious inputs of the many experts who provided materials and information on artificial reefs deployed in their own countries. Special thanks are addressed to Dr Heath Folpp from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), North Coast Fisheries, NSW Australia, and Dr Michael Lowry from NSW DPI, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, NSW Australia, who kindly peer?reviewed the earlier drafts of this document and provided precious and helpful suggestions and information. Finally, gratitude is expressed to the GFCM Secretariat, namely the Executive Secretary, Mr Abdellah Srour, and his team, Ms Pilar Hernandez and Ms Aurora Nastasi, for their commitment in publishing this work.
FAO. 2015. Practical guidelines for the use of artificial reefs in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, by Gianna Fabi, Giuseppe Scarcella, Alessandra Spagnolo, Stephen A. Bortone, Eric Charbonnel, Juan J. Goutayer, Naoufel Haddad, Altan Lok, and Michel Trommelen. Studies and Reviews. General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. No. 96. Rome, Italy.
ABSTRACT
Artificial reefs have been used for a long time around the world and have served many purposes ranging from habitat restoration, fish stock enhancement and fisheries management to research and recreation. At present, fish stock enhancement and fisheries management are the main reasons driving reef construction in the Mediterranean Sea, while habitat restoration is the main purpose for their use in the Black Sea. The increasing interest for artificial reefs has given rise to several concerns regarding their possible negative impacts, due to the use of unsuitable materials and to waste dumping. Consequently, the need emerged over the past fifteen years to develop guidelines in order to support managers and scientists in the use of artificial reefs in European seas. Based on such existing guidelines, this document aims to further provide up?to?date information and guidance regarding specific management practices for the planning, siting, construction and anchoring of artificial reefs in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea and for monitoring their effectiveness from an ecological and socio?economic point of view.
After providing an overview of existing definitions and legislations relating to the deployment of artificial reefs, this document illustrates the main aspects related to the different steps involved in the planning, siting and construction phases. A detailed presentation of the specific types and purposes of artificial reefs follows, with a description of their possible impacts and of existing methodologies to monitor and assess their effectiveness. Finally, these guidelines give insights about the socio?economic effects of artificial reefs and control, surveillance and maintenance issues.
Artificial reefs have been used for a long time around the world and have served many purposes ranging from habitat restoration, fish stock enhancement and fisheries management to research and recreation. At present, fish stock enhancement and fisheries management are the main reasons driving reef construction in the Mediterranean Sea, while habitat restoration is the main purpose for their use in the Black Sea. The increasing interest for artificial reefs has given rise to several concerns regarding their possible negative impacts, due to the use of unsuitable materials and to waste dumping. Consequently, the need emerged over the past fifteen years to develop guidelines in order to support managers and scientists in the use of artificial reefs in European seas. Based on such existing guidelines, this document aims to further provide up-to-date information and guidance regarding specific management practices for the planning, siting, construction and anchoring of artificial reefs in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea and for monitoring their effectiveness from an ecological and socio-economic point of view. After providing an overview of existing definitions and legislations relating to the deployment of artificial reefs, this document illustrates the main aspects related to the different steps involved in the planning, siting and construction phases. A detailed presentation of the specific types and purposes of artificial reefs follows, with a description of their possible impacts and of existing methodologies to monitor and assess their effectiveness. Finally, these guidelines give insights about the socio-economic effects of artificial reefs and control, surveillance and maintenance issues.