Artificial marine habitats in the Arabian Gulf: Review of current use, benefits and management implications

Feary, DA; Burt, JA; Bartholomew, A

Artificial marine habitats in the Arabian Gulf: Review of current use, benefits and management implications

Feary, DA Burt, JA Bartholomew, A

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Ocean and Coastal Management, 2011, 54 (10), pp. 742 - 749
Issue Date:: 2011-10-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Feary, DA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Burt, JA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Bartholomew, A	en_US
dc.date.issued	2011-10-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Ocean and Coastal Management, 2011, 54 (10), pp. 742 - 749	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0964-5691	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/18091
dc.description.abstract	The use of artificial reefs in the Arabian Gulf have a history extending back over a century, when date palm trunks, stones, pottery and other materials were sunk in coastal areas to enhance fish catch. Historically, such artificial reefs formed an important component of the socio-economic development of coastal fisheries. In comparison, modern artificial reefs have taken on a variety of forms. The most widely recognized are purpose-build modular artificial reefs designed for the enhancement of fisheries yield, diving, and various other benefits. However, far more common within the Gulf are the large-scale unplanned artificial reefs that have been formed as a result of human activities in the marine system, such as large-scale coastal breakwaters, seawalls, jetties, pipelines, and oil and gas infrastructure. Although there is limited information on the role of these constructions in structuring Gulf marine communities, increasing evidence suggests that abundant and diverse communities of reef fish, coral and other benthos can develop on these structures, with important ecological implications in urbanized coastal areas in the Gulf. However, due to a variety of unintended consequences of artificial reef development such structures may also pose challenges to coastal marine management. We review the current published literature on artificial reefs in the Gulf in order to improve our understanding of the role that these structures play in Gulf coastal ecosystems, and to further develop regional management of artificial reefs. We explore the various types of artificial reef that exist in the Gulf and examine the benefits and challenges that these structures represent for coastal ecology and economics. Such information is essential for our improved understanding and management of these increasingly important ecosystems in the Gulf. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Ocean and Coastal Management	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2011.07.008	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Fisheries	en_US
dc.title	Artificial marine habitats in the Arabian Gulf: Review of current use, benefits and management implications	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	10	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	54	en_US
utslib.for	0502 Environmental Science and Management	en_US
utslib.for	04 Earth Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	05 Environmental Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	16 Studies in Human Society	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	10	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	54	en_US

Abstract:

The use of artificial reefs in the Arabian Gulf have a history extending back over a century, when date palm trunks, stones, pottery and other materials were sunk in coastal areas to enhance fish catch. Historically, such artificial reefs formed an important component of the socio-economic development of coastal fisheries. In comparison, modern artificial reefs have taken on a variety of forms. The most widely recognized are purpose-build modular artificial reefs designed for the enhancement of fisheries yield, diving, and various other benefits. However, far more common within the Gulf are the large-scale unplanned artificial reefs that have been formed as a result of human activities in the marine system, such as large-scale coastal breakwaters, seawalls, jetties, pipelines, and oil and gas infrastructure. Although there is limited information on the role of these constructions in structuring Gulf marine communities, increasing evidence suggests that abundant and diverse communities of reef fish, coral and other benthos can develop on these structures, with important ecological implications in urbanized coastal areas in the Gulf. However, due to a variety of unintended consequences of artificial reef development such structures may also pose challenges to coastal marine management. We review the current published literature on artificial reefs in the Gulf in order to improve our understanding of the role that these structures play in Gulf coastal ecosystems, and to further develop regional management of artificial reefs. We explore the various types of artificial reef that exist in the Gulf and examine the benefits and challenges that these structures represent for coastal ecology and economics. Such information is essential for our improved understanding and management of these increasingly important ecosystems in the Gulf. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/18091