Journal Issue Volume 29 Issue 2 Harmful Jellyfishes are Manageable

Policy Brief

Deployment of Artificial Habitats Alone Cannot Make up for the Degradation of Coral Reefs

ORCID logo Sandra Enn D. Bahinting1, ORCID logo Alexis S. Principe1, ORCID logo Wilfredo Y. Licuanan1,2

1Br. Alfred Shields FSC Ocean Research Center, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, 0922 Manila, Philippines
2Department of Biology, College of Science, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, 0922 Manila, Philippines

Page 217-223 | Received 06 Oct 2021, Accepted 20 Jun 2022

Key Points

  • Artificial habitat projects are expensive endeavors that should be carefully designed and planned to be sustainable and effective.
  • Artificial habitats must be implemented with other fisheries enhancement and management measures and be monitored to allow for future improvements in site selection criteria and design.
  • Coral reef rehabilitation is much more expensive than protection.
  • Given the considerable cost and effort involved, artificial habitat deployments are justified in only a few situations. The lessons shared in this brief contain recommendations for the review and amendment of the joint memorandum concerning the use and management of artificial reefs.


Keywords: artificial habitats, coral reefs, fisheriesmanagement, fish recruitment, coral settlement