May 2005

Beneath the coastal waters of the world lie thousands of artificial reefs. Some are old and retired freighters and ships that once plied the oceans of the world but now serve as habitats for marine life. Others are newer reefs that have been designed and built for specific applications. With the field of aquatic habitat technology continually growi

This workshop and the resulting proceedings came into being as a result of cumulative concerns by aid agencies, nongovernmental organizations and by government authorities and researchers about the mass installation of artificial reefs in the Philippines.

Artificial Reefs in European Seas focuses on artificial reef research in the Mediterranean and NE Atlantic. The book describes most of the long-term projects running in European seas, presents the legal and economic issues, and suggests future uses for artificial reefs in the European context. Readership: Professionals working on or interested in the uses of artificial reefs for fishery management, coastal zone management, aquaculture and nature conservation. The case studies of reef research programmes make the book ideal for degree students studying topics in ecology, and fisheries and coastal management.

Southeast Asia possesses the mots biologically diverse coral reefs on the planet; and they are severely threatened by human activities. This is a detailed evalution of the threats from over-fishing, pollution, development and more, and makes several recommendations for improved management.

While artificial reefs may have much to offer, they remain an anecdote in the greater scheme of fisheries management, primarily due to the lack of data specific to validating their use. Based on papers presented at the 9th Conference on Artificial Reefs and Artificial Habitats (CARAH) and also including original articles written for this reference,