K.J. Collins

Lobster (Homarus Gammarus) Movement On an Artificial Reef: the Potential Use of Artificial Reefs for Stock Enhancement

In 1989 an experimental artificial reef, constructed with blocks made from stabilized coal-fired power station waste materials, was deployed in Poole Bay on the English south coast. A site was chosen on flat sandy seabed at a depth approximately 10 m below chart datum. Within a few weeks, research divers had observed lobsters on the reef, even though the reef blocks had been deposited on flat sand some distance (3 km) from the nearest natural reefs. Conventional tags were used in studies to investigate lobster movement around the reef structure between 1989 and 1992: 48% of the 114 individuals tagged have been recaptured at least once on the reef. Although a number of lobsters appear to have moved away from the reef altogether (16 of the reef-tagged lobsters have now been recaptured at a maximum of 15.7 km away from the artificial reef), one individual has now been observed on the reef for over 800 days. Lobsters colonized the new man-made structures quickly and many individuals have exhibited considerable long-term site loyalty. Artificial reefs may provide a method for long term lobster stock enhancement at specific sites, assuming habitat to be a major limiting factor on population size and structure.

A Review of Waste Tyre Utilisation in the Marine Environment

Abstract Waste tyres pose a major disposal problem on land creating a fire hazard and, in warmer climates, providing breeding pools for mosquitoes. the void space in tyres makes them unsuitable for land burial. Schemes to use shredded tyres for road bases and asphalt filler are being pursued in the USA. Tyre combustion for electricity production is being investigated in the UK. The widespread availability and durability of tyres has led to their use in the marine environment for breakwaters/coastal defence structures and as artificial reefs for promoting fisheries. Tyres have a low density and have been used in floating breakwaters. Schemes have been proposed to protect and strengthen shorelines with tyre structures. The void space in tyres facilitates the construction of artificial reefs to attract fish. the most intensive use is in the south west Pacific and Australia. Tyre surfaces are colonised by algae and a wide range of faunal species, including corals and shellfish. the wide acceptance of tyres as...

Additions to the hydroids (Cnidaria) of the Galápagos, with a list of species reported from the islands

The hydroid fauna of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, is known largely from reports of collections made between 1932 and 1938 during several Allan Hancock Pacific Expeditions. Of some 100 nominal species (excluding Stylasteridae) reported from the archipelago overall, including species obtained during other expeditions, 81 are recognized as valid. An additional 15 species are added here, 14 of them based on collections undertaken between 1992 and 2000. Leptothecates account for 66 of the 96 species, while anthoathecates comprise the remaining 30. One previously undescribed leptothecate, Halopteris violae, sp. nov., is characterized and compared with H. tenella (Verrill, 1874) and H. minuta (Trebilcock, 1928), species it closely resembles. Gonothecae of Sertularella costata Leloup, 1940 are described for the first time. Plumularia galapagensis, nom. nov., is proposed as a replacement name for the invalid junior primary homonym Plumularia tenuissima Fraser, 1938b (not Plumularia tenuissima Totton, 1930). Under provisions of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, the widely used name Cladocoryne floccosa Rotch, 1871 is designated a nomen protectum and assigned precedence over its largely unknown senior synonym Hydra corynaria Bosc, 1797, which is reduced to the status of nomen oblitum. Balella irregularis (Fraser, 1938) from the Galápagos is considered conspecific with Balella mirabilis (Nutting, 1905) from Hawaii and Japan. Six new combinations are introduced: Bimeria laxa Fraser, 1938a is assigned to the genus Garveia Wright, 1859, as G. laxa (Fraser, 1938a); Tubularia integra Fraser, 1938a is assigned to Ectopleura L. Agassiz, 1862, as E. integra (Fraser, 1938a); Campanulina ramosa Fraser, 1938a is assigned to Opercularella Hincks, 1868, as O. ramosa (Fraser, 1938a); Bonneviella minor Fraser, 1938a is assigned to Scandia Fraser, 1912, as S. minor (Fraser, 1938a); Campanularia gracilicaulis Fraser, 1938a is assigned to Clytia Lamouroux, 1812, as C. gracilicaulis (Fraser, 1938a); Sertularia anceps Fraser, 1938a is assigned to Dynamena Lamouroux, 1812, as D. anceps (Fraser, 1938a). Hydroids of the Galápagos are moderately well known faunistically, at least in comparison with those of other areas in the Eastern Pacific Tropical Region.

Fishery Enhancement Reef Building Exercise

Abstract The constructive use of coal-fired power station waste products for building artificial reefs is being explored for the first time in the U.K. at present, the practice of sea dumping of raw pulverised fuel ash (PFA) from coal combustion is under review and the use of consolidated PFA blocks offers a possible alternative. the planned fitting of flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) plant in the U.K. will additionally produce large quantities of gypsum. to test the environmental compatability of such materials in marine structures, an experimental reef has been constructed off the central south coast of the U.K. Fifty tonnes of blocks made from different combinations of PFA, gypsum, FGD waste water sludge, cement and gravel using standard concrete as the control material, were deployed. the site selected is remote from prominent sea bed features in an area of flat sand with limited species variety.The preliminary studies leading to the licensing of this project included bioassay experiments with diatom c...

Digital electromagnetic telemetry system for studying behaviour of decapod crustaceans.

1 year and the receiving system batteries are replaced by divers at intervals of up to 4 weeks. In field tests, crab (Cancer pagurus L.) and lobster (Homarus gammarus (L.)) activity was monitored at an artificial reef for 14 months. Examples of the type of information acquired are presented to illustrate the capabilities of the system and potential applications are discussed. Limitations of digital electromagnetic telemetry stem mainly from the short range of detection, the need for cables on the seabed and the size and shape of the transmitting tag.

Stability of a coal waste artificial reef

Abstract The feasibility of using U.K. coal-fired power station waste materials for artificial reef production is being examined. in June, 1989, an experimental artificial reef was constructed in Poole Bay, off the central south coast of the U.K., using three different mixtures of pulverised fuel ash (PFA), flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) gypsum and slurry, stabilized with cement and formed into blocks. Fifty tonnes of 40 × 20 × 20 cm blocks were formed into eight conical reef units replicating three different PFA/gypsum mixtures and one concrete control. the reef structure is 10m below chart datum on a flat sandy sea-bed. Combustion of coal concentrates the heavy metal content in the resultant ash. the purpose of stabilization of the ash as blocks is twofold: to immobilize heavy metals (or other components) and to provide hard substratum for the attachment of organisms. to examine the effectiveness of this stabilization and hence the environmental compatibility of the block materials, heavy metal (Cd, Cr...

The Poole Bay artificial reef project

Artificial reef research is relatively new in the UK. The Poole Bay artificial reef was the second licensed reef in the UK, the first being a little-investigated quarry rock reef off the east coast of Scotland (Todd et al, 1992). The Poole Bay reef is unique in Northern Europe, being the first artificial reef made from cement- stabilized pulverized fuel ash (PEA) and flue gas desulphurization (FGD) gypsum derived from power stations. The reef was designed to assess the environmental acceptability of this novel material and was deployed in Poole Bay, off the central south coast of England, in June 1989 (Fig. 1).

Stabilized Coal Ash Artificial Reef Studies

Abstract In 1989, an experimental stabilized coal ash reef was deployed in Poole Bay off the southern coast of the UK. Three different mixtures of pulverised fuel ash, gypsum, flue gas desulphurisation sludge and cement were used along with concrete controls. the aim was to study the environmental compatibility of the reef materials through heavy metal analyses of the blocks to determine if any leaching or changes were occurring. at the same time, reef encrusting and associated biota have been analyzed together with material from concrete control and natural reefs to determine if there was any evidence for excess bioaccumulation. This paper presents the results from studies of sectioned reef blocks immersed for 3 and 4 years. No significant change in levels of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) has been detected. Surface loss of calcium, presumably associated with the gypsum component, is confirmed with evidence of replacement by magnesium. Trends in data suggest initial surface changes which slow ...

Quantifying the impact of environmental variables upon catch per unit effort of the blue shark Prionace glauca in the western English Channel

The effect of environmental variables on blue shark Prionace glauca catch per unit effort (CPUE) in a recreational fishery in the western English Channel, between June and September 1998-2011, was quantified using generalized additive models (GAMs). Sea surface temperature (SST) explained 1·4% of GAM deviance, and highest CPUE occurred at 16·7° C, reflecting the optimal thermal preferences of this species. Surface chlorophyll a concentration (CHL) significantly affected CPUE and caused 27·5% of GAM deviance. Additionally, increasing CHL led to rising CPUE, probably due to higher productivity supporting greater prey biomass. The density of shelf-sea tidal mixing fronts explained 5% of GAM deviance, but was non-significant, with increasing front density negatively affecting CPUE. Time-lagged frontal density significantly affected CPUE, however, causing 12·6% of the deviance in a second GAM and displayed a positive correlation. This outcome suggested a delay between the evolution of frontal features and the subsequent accumulation of productivity and attraction of higher trophic level predators, such as P. glauca.

Current issues relating to artificial reefs in European seas

European artificial reef research has now been active for about three decades. For much of that time research has been conducted within national programmes, focussing on national or local issues, and has taken place predominately in the Mediterranean Sea. Over the past ten years or so interest in artificial reef technology and science has spread into the NE Atlantic and Baltic Sea with an associated variation in aims and ideas. Reef scientists working in European seas have run projects to assess artificial reefs as tools to protect habitat from destruction from trawling (Spain, Italy and France), promote nature conservation (Monaco, Italy and France), aid fisheries (Italy, Spain, Portugal and France), assess novel materials for reef construction (Italy and UK), investigate habitat use for lobsters (UK, Italy and Israel), for aquaculture (Italy), as experimental sites where habitat parameters are known (UK, Holland and Italy) and as biofiltration structures (Finland, Russia, Poland and Romania). This variety of investigation is one of the strengths of artificial reef research in Europe, the community is diverse and there is great scientific value in establishing collaboration and dialogue with colleagues. The majority of artificial reef investigations have been, and still are, experimental with Italy dominating the research effort and Spain currently leading the way in the tonnage of reef material deployed, primarily for seagrass habitat protection. Problems associated with old descriptive, qualitative research have led to developments in quantification and comparative studies which have allowed a scientific perspective to be put on artificial reef deployments across Europe. Currently, as part of the EARRN (European Artificial Reef Research Network) initiative, there is an acceptance of the need to standardise some of the ecological methods used. If this is not practicable in some cases then at least the reporting of results will be done in such a way to allow comparison with data gathered elsewhere.