Preliminary results from the establishment of experimental artificial reefs in the N. Aegean Sea (Chalkidiki, Greece)

Twenty-four artificial reef units were designed and set in the coastal wate rs off Neos Marmaras (Chalkidiki, North Aegean Sea, Greece) in July 1998, a t depths ranging between 7 and 22 in. The volume of each unit was between 0 .8 and 2.25 m(3) and the maximum weight was up to one t. Three different ty pes of material were used for the construction of the units, namely cement, ceramic and car tyres. The units were set along a main axis and along seco ndary axes that were perpendicular to the main one. The artificial reef uni ts were monitored both directly, by diving, as well as through underwater p hotos and experimental sampling. Our results indicated that there was a ten dency: (a) of sessile organisms to inhabit the reef units and (b) for fish to find refuge in the reef units with higher number of species generally re corded after the deployment of the reef units.