Artificial and Natural Reef Valuation Project: Florida and Hawaii

Reefs play a vital role for countless marine species and are an important destination for recreationists who desire to view the diversity of animal and plant life in this unique marine environment. Here, reefs refer to both artificial and natural reefs. Natural reefs include both coral reefs and other natural hard-bottom reefs. Many states have active artificial reef programs; in Florida, local county agencies also have these programs. Recently, these agencies have been pressured to justify the public investment in artificial reefs, as well as investments in protecting and restoring natural reefs. In the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), there is concern about the impacts of introducing new artificial reefs into a natural reef environment. Proponents of new artificial reefs argue that they will take pressure off of surrounding natural reefs (i.e. reduce usage). CORE has instituted monitoring programs to test this hypothesis.