Abstract
The extraction of large boulders from coastal reefs for construction of harbours and coastal protection has led to habitat degradation for local fish populations through the destruction of cavernous reefs and changes in macroalgal cover resulting from a loss of substrate. The temperate reef at L?s? Trindel in Kattegat, Denmark, has now been re-established with the aim of restoring the reef’s historical structure and function. The effects of the restoration on the local fish community are reported here. Fishing surveys using gillnets and fyke nets were conducted before the restoration (2007) and four years after the restoration of the reef (2012). Species of the family Labridae, which have a high affinity for rocky reefs, dominated both before and after the restoration. Commercially important species such as cod Gadus morhua, and saithe Pollachius virens, occurred infrequently in the catches in 2007 but were significantly more abundant in the catches in 2012. Cods were especially attracted to the shallow part of the reef that was restored by adding stones. For some species, such as ballan wrasse Labrus bergylta, and cod, the proportion of larger individuals increased after the restoration. The findings highlight the importance of reef habitats for fish communities and the need for their protection.
Highlights
Marine reefs are important fish habitats providing complex structures that provide refuge for fish and hard substrate for benthic fauna and macroalgal forests that provide refuge and feeding sites for fish [1]-[3]
This study demonstrates a change in fish diversity, the distribution of species and population size characteristics for some fish species from BEFORE and AFTER reef restoration
We suggest that the changes noted in the fish populations here are likely related to the restoration of the reef habitat with macroalgal vegetation
Summary
Marine reefs are important fish habitats providing complex structures that provide refuge for fish and hard substrate for benthic fauna and macroalgal forests that provide refuge and feeding sites for fish [1]-[3]. Most of our knowledge on reef habitats is derived from studies on tropical reefs, in the recent decade more focus has been directed towards the quantitative significance for fish communities of reef habitats in temperate areas. Most monitoring for fish assessment is limited to relatively smooth bottom areas due to the design of the survey gear [4]. Monitoring of fish communities on complex habitats such as temperate reefs and biogenic reefs are often limited to specific ecological studies of limited duration [5] [6]. Limited temporal knowledge is available on the fish diversity and abundance in relation to temperate reefs and the quantitative ecological role of temperate reefs in our region
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