Reef Ball Foundation Photos and Project Description Database

Reef balls give fish artificial homes to live in By Jennifer Taplin The Daily News BEDFORD - To a fish swimming along on its fishy business, a massive ship hitting the ocean floor is nothing but an opportunity. Artificial reefs may be good for tourism, but they also make good fish habitats. Glyn Sharp, a marine biologist at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, said whether artificial reefs are designed for fish or for scuba divers, it helps out the local fish population. "You put in these habitats and it's not a matter of new fish being born, (but) you very quickly have it being utilized by existing fish populations." Artificial reefs provide a place where the small fish can hide from the big fish. While it's difficult to prove if artificial reefs translate to bigger fish populations overall, Sharp said there are studies that show reefs enhance production for many different species. The only bad news is for the organisms -- like clams and worms -- living in the sediment where the ship lands. "The footprint of the artificial reef will obliterate those populations, but the positive thing usually is you now have created a more complex environment." Scientists design artificial reefs specifically for fish habitats. There are several locations around Nova Scotia where "reef balls" are used, such as near McNabs Island, Paddy's Head at St........