415 



around the car bodies. The reason for the aggregation is not understood, but it 

 might be a response to eddy currents that are set up by the car bodies. The star- 

 fish were frequently aggregated into "balls," made up of several individuals. 



The Bureau of Economic Research, Rutgers University, in cooperation vrith 

 our Laboratory, has submitted a research proposal to the Ford Foundation for an 

 economic feasibility study on the utilization of metropolitan wastes for the 

 construction of artificial fishing reefs. 



A cooperative artificial fishing reef program was arranged with the Bureau of 

 Marine Fisheries, New York State Department of Conservation. We plan to con- 

 struct a pilot-reef off Rockaway Beach utilizing a permit issued to the State of 

 New York by the Corps of Engineers. Other areas along the Long Island littoral 

 zone and some old artificial reef sites will be made available to us to study. This 

 joint effort with New York will extend our research activity into an area of 

 heavy recreational angling. 



Lakey Ogben. 



[Progress in Sport Fishery Research, 1967, p. 176] 



ARTIFICIAL BEEF ECOLOGY 



Our artificial reef program which began last year with the construction of 

 a pilot study reef off Monmouth Beach, New Jersey, is designed to determine the 

 effect of artificial fishing reefs on the distribution and abundance of marine game 

 fish. From the data that we have gathered this year, and information available 

 from other sources, there is no doubt that artificial reefs attract fish. However, 

 we believe these reefs may not only congregate available fish, but also serve to 

 increase the size of some populations by providing additional spawning sites for 

 adults and protected areas and food for the young. 



We selected five sites between New York and Miami in addition to our Mon- 

 mouth Beach site, to compare species composition of fish and invertebrates at- 

 tracted to reefs in different latitudes and environments. In choosing these sites, 

 we considered depth of water, bottom type, ease of access by our survey team and 

 distance to coastal population centers. After selecting sites oft' Atlantic Beach, 

 Long Island, New York ; Kiawah Island, South Carolina (south of the Charleston 

 Harbor entrance) ; Jacksonville Beach, Florida ; Palm Beach, Florida, and in 

 Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida, we surveyed each area and assembled a list of 

 the marine plants and animals present before placement of the reef materials. 



The initial construction phase is now complete on five of our sites and a 

 sixth, off Palm Beach, Florida is in the planning stage. 



Part of our study is to determine (1) what type of reef material is best for at- 

 tracting fish and encrusting organisms, (2) life expectancy of the material and 

 (3) cost, both of material and handling. We are using a number of test materials 

 including scrap metal, mostly in the form of junk car bodies, concrete culvert and 

 old tires. Tires were arranged in units of twelve, spaced on reinforcing rods and 

 weighted with concrete. 



We plan to complete construction of our Palm Beach reef and add a number of 

 different materials at the other reef sites. Our direct observational techniques 

 using SCUBA to study the distribution of game fish on the reef sites will be com- 

 plemented with the use of fish traps for mark and recapture studies and hook and 

 line methods by project personnel and cooperating sport fishermen. Our plan in- 

 cludes close and continual cooperative research efforts with State conservation 

 departments. We are compiling a checklist of artificial and natural reefs along 

 the Atlantic coast from Jdaine to Florida to aid in future reef site selections, for 

 possible comparisons of new and old artificial reef habitats with natural reefs and 

 for dissemination to interested sport fishermen. 



Richard B. Stone. 



Life history and hehavior of reef fishes 



We expanded our research diving activities to include the newly constructed 

 artificial reefs in waters from New York to Jacksonville, Florida. On the older, 

 established reefs we saw new and changing faunas. Reef materials have not been 

 scattered or buried by storms or currents. 



In New Jersey, the year-old car body reef still afforded considerable relief 

 above the fiat surrounding area. Currents scoured the sands out from under chas- 



