Impacts of Artificial Reefs on Fishery Production in Shimamaki, Japan

The role of artificial reefs as a tool for increasing fishery production rather than just aggregating fish is addressed for two fisheries, octopus, Octopus dofleini, and flatfish, (Pleuronectidae), near Shimamaki, Japan. The time series of catch and effort data examined covers periods before and after two adjacent fishing grounds received 8,645 and 40,766 m³ of artificial reef. Octopus catches were increased by 4% per 1,000 m³ of artificial reef or by an average of 1.8 kg/m³ of artificial reef. Artificial reefs aggregated flatfishes but did not increase catches in the regions. A survey of fishermen in the two regions revealed that the reefs generally are considered beneficial.