Locate artificial reefs near aquaculture systems (and vice versa) to act as biofilters

Overall effectiveness category No evidence found (no assessment)
Number of studies: 0
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Effectiveness

not assessed
Certainty

not assessed
Harms

not assessed

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Aquaculture systems can negatively impact invertebrate subtidal communities through pollution and diminished water quality (Wu et al. 1994). Artificial reefs host a high biodiversity, including filter-feeding organisms, and stimulate the biological productivity around them, even in the surrounding soft sediments (Ambrose & Anderson 1990). By placing artificial reefs near aquaculture systems, they can act as natural biofilters following colonisation, improving water quality, and potentially benefitting surrounding subtidal benthic invertebrates (Aguado-Giménez et al. 2011; Angel et al. 2002; Gao et al. 2008).

Evidence of other interventions related to the relocation of aquaculture activities are summarised under “Threat: Pollution – Locate aquaculture systems in already impacted areas”, “Locate aquaculture systems in locations with fast currents”, and “Locate aquaculture systems in vegetated areas”. Other evidence related to the creation of artificial reefs are summarised in the “Habitat restoration and creation” chapter.

_{Aguado-Giménez F., Piedecausa M.A., Carrasco C., Gutiérrez J.M., Aliaga V. & García-García B. (2011) Do benthic biofilters contribute to sustainability and restoration of the benthic environment impacted by offshore cage finfish aquaculture? Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62, 1714–1724.}

_{Ambrose R.F. & Anderson T.W. (1990). Influence of an artificial reef on the surrounding infaunal community. Marine Biology, 107, 41–52.}

_{Angel D.L., Eden N., Breitstein S., Yurman A., Katz T. & Spanier E. (2002) In situ biofiltration: a means to limit the dispersal of effluents from marine finfish cage aquaculture. Hydrobiologia, 469, 1–10.}

_{Gao Q.-F., Shin P.K.S., Xu W.Z. & Cheung S.G. (2008). Amelioration of marine farming impact on the benthic environment using artificial reefs as biofilters. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 57, 652–661.}

_{Wu R.S.S., Lam K.S., MacKay D.W., Lau T.C. & Yam V. (1994) Impact of marine fish farming on water quality and bottom sediment: A case study in the sub-tropical environment. Marine Environmental Research, 38, 115–145.}

Key messages

We found no studies that evaluated the effects of locating artificial reefs near aquaculture systems to act as biofilters on subtidal benthic invertebrate populations.

‘We found no studies’ means that we have not yet found any studies that have directly evaluated this intervention during our systematic journal and report searches. Therefore, we have no evidence to indicate whether or not the intervention has any desirable or harmful effects.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Please cite as:

Lemasson, A.J., Pettit, L.R., Smith, R.K. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Subtidal Benthic Invertebrate Conservation. Pages 635-732 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Subtidal Benthic Invertebrate Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Improve fish food and pellets to reduce aquaculture waste production Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Locate artificial reefs near aquaculture systems (and vice versa) to act as biofilters Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Cease or prohibit aquaculture activity Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	2	Synopsis Link