The effectiveness of artificial reefs for rehabilitation and production of fisheries in Iran

An artificial Reef is a fabricated, underwater structure, typically built for promoting marine life in areas of generally featureless bottom. Creating artificial reefs began from 2000 in southern provinces in Iran. This study has surveyed about the Bushehr and Khozestan states. The objective is to determine the effectiveness of artificial reefs in attracting and enhancing the production different aquatics through increasing of fish assemblage and fishery. The performance of artificial reefs deployed off the coast of the Persian Gulf in 10 to 15m, was evaluated. The reefs comprised of seven artificial and one control (natural) statistical tests plan in three replicates. Three types of artificial reefs were used in this study. That two were designed reefs and one was not designed or used material. The experimental plan consisted (i) Reef ball (R), designed hemispherical shaped; (ii) Laneh Mahi (L), designed pyramid shaped; (iii) Used material (U); (iv) mixed (RL); (v) mixed (RU); (vi) mixed (LU); (vii) mixed (RLU); and (viii) control site (CS). Trap nets and under-water visual census surveys were adopted for seasonal sampling of fish aggregation. Results of statistical analysis using ANOVA and T-test of the mean Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE) showed significant difference (p