ABSTRACT
In past years the design, construction, and research on artificial reefs focused on two areas of biological interest: 1) enhancement of fish stocks which historically have supported the partyboat sportfishing industry (Buchanan et al., 1974; Parker et al., 1979; Stone et al., 1979; Aska, 1981); and 2) studies of fish community structure as it relates to the physical complexity of artificial reefs (Molles, 1978; Bohnsack and Talbot, 1980). Recently, however, artificial reefs have been evaluated for their mitigative potential in nearshore marine habitats possibly impacted by operations of power plants, offshore petroleum exploration, and municipal sewage outfalls (Aquabio, 1981). The mitigative potential of artificial reefs is not limited exclusively to fishes but includes all valued 384resources (algae, invertebrates, and fish) within the potentially impacted habitat (Federal Register, 1981; Ashe, 1982).
