Combining wave energy and artificial reef technology for sustainable coastal resource development

Although wave power is a significant alternative energy resource, its commercial deployment is hampered by the high capital cost of mooring structures for the wave energy absorbers. By anchoring the system to an artificial reef instead, harnessing this resource could become more economically feasible. Studies conducted worldwide have shown that reefs can be designed to attract specific species of finfish and shellfish. Included in this paper is a comprehensive review of this literature to present which reef design is favorable to enhance commercial fisheries, charter boat sport fishing, or recreational dive tours. Results of this analysis show that a large complex structure such as a decommissioned ship is favorable for divers because it would recruit the highest diversity of species. In terms of increasing population numbers, fishing industries that target bottom-dwelling fish would benefit most from low lying reefs such as assembled from concrete pipes. If water column oriented fish are targeted, a ship or fish aggregating device (FAD), both of which provide high vertical relief, would work best. The combination of wave energy buoys and a “designer” benthic reef structure would act as a “super reef”, drawing income from a variety of reef user groups as well as the sale of energy and potable water