We observed consistently lower live sponge cover along cable
transects and at cable index sites compared to control transects and
sites. Live sponge cover was the lowest (decreased by 55%) at cable
index sites one and a half years after cable installation. In other
words, the magnitude of impact on glass sponges was not apparent
immediately after cable installation: maximal effect was observed
over a year after the physical disturbance. Sponges recovered to
85 ± 30.6% of the original percent cover over the following two
years, suggesting that full recovery would take several years but is
potentially possible. Recovery appeared to have occurred through a
combination of regrowth and recruitment. The lack of statistically
significant differences in regression slopes at cable and control sites
during this growth/recovery period suggests that recovery rate at
sites affected by the cables was comparable to natural rates of
sponge reef expansion.