Comparisons of Three Manufactured Artificial Reef Units in Onslow Bay, North Carolina

Abstract Three types of benthic artificial reef units were tested by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Artificial Reef Program: steel cubes, fiberglass-covered plastic domes, and concrete pipes. Evaluations were conducted in 1990 and 1991 at two sites in Onslow Bay, North Carolina. Reef materials were compared at the deep site (≥15 m) by quantifying stability, durability, target fish attraction, and cost per unit surface area. Assessment at the shallow site (<15 m) included only stability, durability, and cost per unit surface area. Cubes and domes were stable in shallow (<15 m) waters. Pipes and domes were stable and cubes were unstable in deep waters (≥15 m). Pipes were evaluated only at the deep site, The only structural damage observed was to two domes which were crushed during deployment. Acceptable postdeployment durability was observed for all three materials through 2 years of monitoring. Relative abundance and species richness for target fishes were assessed at the deep site and wer...