Artificial reefs in Lake Erie: Biological impacts of habitat alteration

From 1984 to 1989, artificial reefs were constructed at two locations in ce ntral Lake Erie by Ohio State University's Sea Grant College Program. The g oals of the construction projects were to improve sportfishing opportunity in nearshore waters, evaluate the effectiveness of reefs as fish-concentrat ion devices, and eventually assist other coastal communities in developing artificial reef programs. From 1992 to 1995, we conducted evaluations to as sess the effectiveness of these artificial reefs as sport fish attractors a nd to establish their Value in sport fishery enhancement projects. Underwat er VHS video was used by scuba divers to identify and enumerate fish at bot h artificial reef sites and at adjacent nonreef control sites. Observation dives were done monthly, weather permitting, from May through October each year. T-tests were used to determine seasonal differences in fish abundance between the reef and control sites. At both sites, total seasonal numbers of fish were significantly higher (20-50 times more) at the reef site than the control site (p = 0.05). Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu were the dominant species at both reef sites, comprising over 80% of the observation s during most months. Total seasonal numbers of smallmouth bass were also h igher during spring and fall than in midsummer, suggesting seasonal pattern s and preferences for artificial structure. We conclude that, when properly planned and located, artificial reefs would provide beneficial fish habita t along most of Lake Erie's nearshore zone and may have application Great L akes-wide.