Monitoring fish fauna of 3D reefs

Initiated in 2018, monitoring the fish fauna installed in and around 3D artificial reefs represents a major challenge for understanding the progressive colonization of submerged reefs.

Two methods are used. A conventional method with visual counts taking into account all the individuals present on each reef, species by species as well as their size in order to calculate the biomass present on the reefs in addition to the species richness and density. And an automated photographic tracking method to identify species that are more fearful in the presence of divers.

Two data collection campaigns are carried out annually by Thalassa Marine research & Environmental awareness (at the beginning and end of the summer period), the first campaign having just ended. There is no doubt that the results, already very promising, will ultimately show the effectiveness of 3D reefs.