History of Artificial Reefs
For centuries artificial reefs have been used by cultures from around the world for a wide variety
of purposes and with a wide variety of objects. Throughout history the most common and oldest use
of artificial reefs has been to increase fishing production; like India whose history with artificial
reefs in the form of weighted trees extends back 18 centuries ago. However the earliest record of
artificial reefs comes from the ancient Greeks, who write of the Persians building reefs across the
mouth of the Tigris River to block pirates over two thousand years ago. There is also evidence of
Romans using artificial reefs as a battle tactic to trap enemy ships in the Carthaginian harbor.
The practice of using artificial reefs is now employed in over 40 countries and is rapidly growing;
indeed, from 1995 - 2000 alone Japan's expenditure for reef construction was 600 billion yen, or
over $51.25 million. As the use of artificial reefs has grown it has specialized into the utilization of
reefs for a variety of different purposes; from habitat restoration to promotion of tourism to water
quality improvement to the currently developing practice of aquaculture of marine organisms.
The United States' history with artificial reefs begins in 1830 off the coast of South Carolina,
where log huts were sunk to improve fishing in the first documented American artificial reef. Since
then, the United States has used automobiles, concrete pilings, warships, and even a reef made out
of 14,000 concrete-filled Schaefer beer cases at the Fire Island inlet in New York in 1953.
Currently, America boasts thousands of artificial reefs of all sizes, with more being added constantly.
Despite the long history of artificial reef use, artificial reefs were rare in the United States
until the practice began to pick up in the 1970s and 1980s. In particular, an increasing amount of
new reefs since then have been outdated ships from the U.S. Navy.
Additionally, growth in artificial reefs around the world has resulted in a new niche in the American
economy: domestic and international companies specializing in creating artificial reefs, selling specialized
material for reefs, and research companies have joined the established artificial reef associated industries
of recreational diving, fishing and tourism.
As knowledge of artificial reefs increases, artificial reefs are being purposely deployed for a variety
of specific goals instead of one goal; for example to prevent illegal otter-trawl fishing and also to
promote aquaculture. With the types and uses of artificial reefs rapidly expanding along with the industry,
the practice of artificial reefs is becoming an increasingly viable option for a number of different sectors
from around the world.
References Used
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