ABSTRACT
The major principle underlying the utility of artificial reefs as fish attractors is readily perceived by anyone who has ever been frustrated by snagged seines—used either avocationally to collect minnows or vocationally with the intent to obtain representative fish samples. Artificial reefs range from simple tire reefs to the removal, transport and placement of an entire 500-ton obsolete oil production rig 400 km from its original site. Technical sophistication has increased with regard to the materials used for artificial reefs. However, there appears to be a technology gap in the transportation of large, irregularly shaped objects such as obsolete oil rigs. Placement of an artificial reef should consider the location of access points, particularly boat launching ramps. Placement of a reef a great distance from shore could result in the creation of an attractive nuisance. The size of a reef should be considered too, for it must be large enough to support the fishing pressure it is expected to receive.
