Artificial reef and its role in marine fisheries development

Abstract

Floating bamboo bundles and piles of stones kept on the sea bottom have long been used by traditional fishermen as fish gathering devices in various parts of the world. These objects provide living space, shelter for protection from the predators thus functioning as (i) a habitat for organisms. The attached algae and other sessile organisms serve as food especially for young ones. Thus the area where such objects are placed function as (ii) a feeding ground. These objects also act as a suitable substratum for attachment of eggs in some cases thus functioning as (iii) a spawning ground. Based on these principles artificial reefs are constructed in different parts of the world either to create a new fishing ground or to improve the production potential of the existing grounds.