The Euro-Mediterranean conference on artificial reefs

Artificial Reefs are also known as Dynamic Reefs when applied to resort development waterfronts and tourism.

At Reef Worlds we have been leading the Dynamic Reef Revolution.

The Euro-Mediterranean conference on artificial reefs was held in Marseille from 5th to 8th February 2013 (conference web site). This event brought together over 230 participants from 17 different countries . Even if artificial reefs (ARs) are not present in every Marine Protected Area (MPA), the questions they raise coincide to a large degree with MPA managers’ areas of concern. Therefore, MedPAN was very interested in taking part in this meeting. We would like to present to you here a short summary; focusing on some points that are directly linked to MPAs, pending the findings and proceedings of this conference.
 
The topics discussed were: 

• Reefs and coastal zone management; 
• Tourist reefs and wrecks; 
• Promotion of artificial reefs; 
• Management of reef sites.

An overview of artificial reefs in Mediterranean MPAs

This conference was an opportunity for MedPAN to make a preliminary survey on artificial reefs in Mediterranean MPAs. This inventory was presented by Marianne Lang and is based on data collected via a questionnaire whose main objective was to identify artificial reefs submerged in MPAs or on their boundaries. 

This study’s results are based on responses from 36 managers of marine and coastal protected areas in the Mediterranean. The trends found in the survey need to be to be confirmed over a broader range. Therefore, we would like to ask MPA managers who have not yet done so to take a few minutes to answer this questionnaire. 

Half of the sites surveyed have a connection with ARs, the other half do not (the main reasons mentioned being insufficient financial resources for their implementation, lack of knowledge and technical resources and the presence of natural reefs).

If we look more closely at MPAs connected to artificial reefs (these are mainly located in the EU), it is clear from this first study that the presence of ARs in MPAs is generally because they are part of multi-stakeholder projects, frequently involving fishermen and local authorities.

The study shows that a majority (56%) of MPA managers who deal with reefs have seen changes on both the environment and users' behaviour: they mention in particular the "reef effect" which is similar to the MPA's spill-over effect, the effectiveness of anti-trawling reefs and the ARs contribution to managing marine resources which benefits fishermen in the outlying zone.

These observations and the results from MedPAN’s recent survey of ARs in Mediterranean MPAs were supported by experience feedback heard during this conference. In fact, Marine Protected Areas often came up in terms of management issues or to highlight the complementary nature of MPAs and ARs in a policy of integrated management of coastal areas.

AR and MPA: complementary tools for integrated management of coastal areas.

An artificial reef project can meet several environmental and socio-economic objectives . However, historically ARs were often submerged for a specific purpose. In the Mediterranean, artificial reefs are frequently submerged for fishery purposes on the professional fishermen’s initiative. 
Naoufel Haddad, the Founder and Chairman of the Tunisian Association for the Development of Artisanal Fisheries (ATDEPA), explains this in his article ‘Artificial Reefs: a haven for artisanal fishermen in Tunisia’.

Similar experiences unfold across the Mediterranean: the Blue Coast Marine Park near Marseilles has been involved since 1985 in developing reef programmes for production and protection. Their primary purpose is also to reinforce the dynamics of a territory where there is a busy artisanal fishing sector. On the “Blue Coast” and in the Gulf of Gabes in Tunisia, artificial reefs have helped to reorganize the fishing territory by pushing trawlers further out to sea so that small-scale fishing can use the coastal strip better (the use of dormant nets which are more selective and less aggressive than towed nets for fish stocks).

Recognised for their positive effect in terms of fishery resource and ecological benefits, artificial reefs are accepted and mastered by fishermen  and arouse the interest of other stakeholders (recreational fishing, diving, environmental education, research ...). According to Eric Charbonnel, chief scientist at the Blue Coast Marine Park, they act as real "energy catalysts" which enables a bottom-up dynamic in developing common rules.

The ARs can thus be equally regarded as good tools for the preservation of the environment, sustainable development and dialogue, thus complementing well MPAs in the integrated management of coastal areas. 

Management issues on artificial reef sites

The participants in the AR sites promotion and management workshops  all stressed the need for a co-built and co-responsible management system involving all stakeholders over the long term which follows specific objectives (a management plan). 

They also pointed out inadequate management, particularly for ARs outside Marine Protected Areas. In fact, most of these do not have the support of a specific management body or sustainable funding. The participants discussed some possible solutions to overcome this lack of management and resources by creating partnership agreements with professional fishermen and divers for surveillance or even establishing direct or indirect taxes as a source of funding. Finally, following the example of the Prado Bay in Marseilles, it was recommended that communication, awareness and education aspects be taken into account during the whole lifecycle of each AR project.

In addition to these lines of action, participants particularly stressed the need for a broad and integrated management on a larger scale than just the AR itself: locally, the creation of Natura 2000 sites at sea or the implementation of Bay Contracts can provide a good context to move towards global management which is integrated on a territorial level. This vision can be shared nationally through framework documents, like France’s recent strategic document for the implementation of artificial reefs.

The ARs can legitimately find their place in the management framework of a Marine Protected Area, as long as the AR project is truly part of the MPA’s objectives: "MPAs are a means to work on the erosion of biodiversity, artificial reefs are another. When artificial reefs are in a MPA, the issue is then managing these reefs within the MPA’s integrated policy. It is indeed important to avoid separating the two: artificial reefs can play a role in the MPA, but they must be managed in accordance with the MPA’s policy"(Renaud Dupuy de la Grandrive, Director of the City of Agde Marine Environment).

On this topic one can also read: 

Artificial reefs: a multipurpose tool for marine life conservation. 

How Artificial Reefs and MPAs can work together in an integrated approach: the Andalusian experience.

Artificial Reefs: a haven for artisanal fishermen in Tunisia