s, covered by over 36% of the papers reviewed. Of
these, nearly half are concerned with fish attraction, fish assemblages, their
distribution and abundance. Fisheries production, enhancement and improvement
along with fish ecology and behaviour are also well-documented themes. In terms of
general themes, the next major sector is ‘‘design and monitoring’’ covered by over
18% of the reviewed papers. The majority of these reflect the need for adequate
monitoring and sampling methodologies.
Over 16% of the papers covered ‘‘general reviews and theory’’, the majority of
these related to geographical reviews and discussions on issues of planning and
management. Over 12% and 10% of the papers related to ‘‘general ecology’’ and
‘‘habitat protection and mitigation’’, respectively. Epifaunal studies and mitigation
for habitat loss are the main foci of research for these general themes.
Other general themes covered by papers include ‘‘mariculture’’, ‘‘sport diving’’,
‘‘waste disposal’’ (mainly related to coal ash) and ‘‘coastal protection and
development’’.
Table 3 presents themes covered by different papers in terms of the material
used as artificial reefs. One should again note that a paper may have covered
bothanti-trawling and improvement of fishing; or fishassemblages and fisheries
enhancement, etc. and may thus be cited more than once. A particular reef
from a paper review may also be composed of two or more materials. The coverage
of this paper will therefore be documented for each material, any given
paper thus being cited more than once. As can be seen concrete reefs have
been associated witha variety of themes, most notably related to fishattraction,
assemblages, distribution and abundance and, general ecology and epifaunal
studies. Again, rock and similar material is associated witha variety of themes.
FADs, on the other hand are mainly associated with fish attraction and fisheries
related themes. Although studies have been carried out on reefs constructed
from offshore platforms, the majority of the review concentrates on feasibility and
management issues. Tyre reefs have mainly been associated with fisheries;
vessels withfisheries, sport angling and diving; stabilised ashwaste withwaste
disposal issues and epifaunal studies; breakwaters withhabitat provision and design
issues; wood withartisanal fishing; withbothsteel and plastic reefs relating to a
variety of themes