Artificial Reefs in the Mediterranean Sea

Floating artificial structures called “Kannizzati” have been used since time immemorial in the Mediterranean Sea, mostly in the southern basin (Sicily Malta) for so-called “fishing-in-the-shade.” First experiences with man-made reefs in the Mediterranean Sea (Italy, France, Israel) date to the early 1970's. The first scientifically directed artificial reef was built in 1974, in the Adriatic Sea, with stones and concrete blocks. Subsequently, old ships were sunk in the same area and mussels were cultured on ropes suspended from iron frames. In Italy, artificial reefs built on soft bottom in near-shore areas are multipurpose mechanical structures to prevent illegal near-shore bottom trawling, to provide refuge for marine species, and for mariculture of suspended mussels in unsheltered areas of high primary productivity.