Rocky Habitat Mitigation Using Artificial Reefs in Puget Sound, Washington

by Gregory J. Hueckel, Washington State Dep of Fisheries, Olympia, WA, USA,
Brian L. Benson, Washington State Dep of Fisheries, Olympia, WA, USA,
Raymond M. Buckley, Washington State Dep of Fisheries, Olympia, WA, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastal Zone '87

Abstract:

In Puget Sound, Washington, artificial reefs are being studied to determine their potential to mitigate for man-caused degradation of rocky habitat. These studies demonstrate the biological processes which occured on 11 Puget Sound artificial reefs during the first two reef years that directly affect those economically important rocky habitat fish species which are most likely to be subject for future mitigation. These 11 artificial reefs provided key habitat components important to the survival of at least 12 economically important rocky habitat fish species. Accurate predictions of future fish species assemblages and their relative abundances on ensuing artificial reefs at prospective sites are shown to be effective by using a biota indexing comparison system. This system is based on biota indexes of three productive rocky habitats in the Puget Sound region. These predictions are necessary to ensure the successful mitigation of the impacted habitat.

Subject Headings: Reefs and sills | Fish and fishery management | Mitigation and remediation | Coastal management | Economic factors | Coastal processes | Chemical degradation | Washington | United States

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