Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Fisheries Policy Report FP – 3 Massachusetts Marine Artificial Reef Plan M. A. Rousseau Massachusetts Division of MarineFisheries Department of Fish and Game Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Commonwealth of Massachusetts June 2008 Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Fisheries Policy Report FP - 3 Massachusetts Marine Artificial Reef Plan Mark Rousseau Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries 251 Causeway Street, Suite 400 Boston, MA 02114 June 2008 Massachusetts Division of MarineFisheries Paul J. Diodati - Director Department of Fish and Game Mary B. Griffin - Commissioner Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian A. Bowles - Secretary Commonwealth of Massachusetts Deval L. Patrick – Governor Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................iv I. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................................1 1.1 PURPOSE OF MA ARTIFICIAL REEF PLAN ............................................................................................................2 1.2 DEFINITION OF AN ARTIFICIAL REEF....................................................................................................................2 1.3 BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTIVITY AND AGGREGATION................................................................................................3 1.4 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF MA ARTIFICIAL REEF PROGRAM ............................................................................3 1.5 HISTORY OF ARTIFICIAL REEFS IN MASSACHUSETTS...........................................................................................4 II. TECHNICAL EVALUATION..............................................................................................................................6 2.1 BENEFITS AND RISKS OF ARTIFICIAL REEFS ........................................................................................................6 2.1.1 - Biological benefits and risks....................................................................................................7 2.1.2 - Physical benefits and risks.......................................................................................................7 2.1.3 - Socio-Economic benefits and risks..........................................................................................8 2.2 COMPARATIVE DIFFERENCES OF MA TO OTHER COASTAL STATES.....................................................................8 2.2.1 - Geography................................................................................................................................9 2.2.2 - Oceanography ..........................................................................................................................9 2.2.3 - Demography...........................................................................................................................10 2.2.3.1 Massachusetts ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2.3.2 South Coast Massachusetts ................................................................................................................................. 10 2.2.3.3 Gulf of Maine Region of Massachusetts ............................................................................................................ 12 2.2.3.4 Regional Summary.............................................................................................................................................. 12 III. ARTIFICIAL REEF APPLICATIONS............................................................................................................12 3.1 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ...................................................................................................................................13 3.2 RECREATIONAL FISHERIES.................................................................................................................................13 3.3 SPORT DIVING ...................................................................................................................................................14 3.4 SUBSISTENCE FISHING .......................................................................................................................................15 3.5 MITIGATION.......................................................................................................................................................15 3.6 MARINE SANCTUARIES AND NURSERIES............................................................................................................15 3.7 SPECIAL MANAGEMENT ZONES .........................................................................................................................16 3.8 RESEARCH .........................................................................................................................................................16 3.9 REGULATION .....................................................................................................................................................16 3.10 ARTIFICIAL REEFS VS. OCEAN DISPOSAL.........................................................................................................17 3.11 NON-TRADITIONAL USES .................................................................................................................................17 IV. ARTIFICIAL REEF DESIGN GUIDELINES.................................................................................................17 4.1 REEF TYPES .......................................................................................................................................................18 4.1.1 - Benthic Reefs.........................................................................................................................18 4.1.2 - Mid-water reefs......................................................................................................................18 4.1.3 - Estuarine Reefs ......................................................................................................................19 4.2 MATERIALS........................................................................................................................................................19 4.2.1 - Materials Criteria ...................................................................................................................19 4.2.1.1 - Function............................................................................................................................................................ 19 4.2.1.2 - Compatibility .................................................................................................................................................... 19 4.2.1.3 - Stability and Placement..................................................................................................................................... 20 4.2.1.4 - Durability.......................................................................................................................................................... 20 4.2.2 - Material Types .......................................................................................................................20 4.2.2.1 - Secondary Use and Natural Materials............................................................................................................... 20 4.2.2.2 - Manufactured Reef Structures .......................................................................................................................... 21 4.2.3 - Transfer of Construction Materials........................................................................................22 4.2.3.1 - Incentives.......................................................................................................................................................... 22 4.2.3.2 - Tax Incentives................................................................................................................................................... 22 4.2.3.3 - Alternatives....................................................................................................................................................... 22 4.3 DESIGN ..............................................................................................................................................................22 i 4.3.1 - Configuration and Orientation ...............................................................................................23 4.3.2 - Profile.....................................................................................................................................23 4.3.3 - Interstitial space .....................................................................................................................23 4.3.4 - Total Surface Area .................................................................................................................23 4.3.5 - Openness of reef materials.....................................................................................................23 4.3.6 - Proximity to natural or artificial habitats...............................................................................23