Fish Hives into the Caribbean sea

Kathryn Whittey

Cardiff University

 

Corals create complex, 3-dimensional structures which then provide a plethora of habitat space for marine life. Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and despite only covering 1% of the ocean they support up to 25% of life in the sea. But, unfortunately due to climate change and a number of other anthropogenic stressors coral reefs are declining. This is not only impacting the marine life that directly depends on the corals for habitat, but it also affects communities who depend on the reefs for livelihood.

During my time in Tobago, it was clear that many fishers and members of the community, aware of their declining reefs, were keen to do something to help but struggle to see what their options are. I’d seen artificial reefs been used as one technique to restoring coral reef habitat. These structures, often made from concrete, provide an alternative habitat space that was once provided by coral. Additionally, as concrete is porous, over time natural benthic settlement of organisms. At home in Wales, I started to ask around about concrete, and together with my family, in our garden, we designed a concrete structure which mimics some elements of the corals I’d seen on the reef. We made 1-metre-high concrete domes with a hollow inside. We knew we wanted the hollow inside to provide refuge for fish, and it was important that the whole process could be repeated on the small island of Tobago using minimal resources. We landed on an inflatable mould, a space hopper! These could be take out with us in our suitcases. Then, we layer concrete around the spacehopper, placing in small pieces of wide bamboo to create holes that would lead to the inside cavity. The resulting structure we named a Fish Hive!

In 2019 we successfully deployed 12 Fish Hives into the Caribbean sea in Tobago. The structures were seeded with corals and the spacehoppers, having survived several rounds of building, went to the local children in the village. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic we were unable to return to Tobago to see the structures in person, but I completed the chapter for my PhD using footage collected by our collaborators Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville ERIC.

While the installation of artificial reef structures is a positive step toward reef rehabilitation, effective monitoring is crucial to assess their success and ensure their long-term sustainability. By continuing to monitor these structures we are gathering valuable data to allows scientists, conservationists, and local authorities to assess the impact of these artificial reefs.

In June 2022 with the help of the Challenger Society Stepping Stone bursary I undertook research trip to Tobago to return to sea the hives for the first time since deploying them in 2019. After 3 years away from the reef I was anxious about what I might find. The Caribbean had had several warming events since I’d last been out, and I hadn’t seen any footage of the hives for about a year. But, when I arrived I was greeted by numerous old friends both on and off the reef.

I’d flown out to Tobago to take part in teaching the Cardiff University marine field course for undergraduates. I was thrilled to receive the bursary, the funding covered the costs of extending my stay in Tobago to undertake additional field work on the hives, as well as transport across the island to meet collaborators and discuss future planning for the project.
I removed tangled fishing line, re-seeded corals that hadn’t made it and collected additional footage for long-term monitoring. I was able to monitor the colonization and utilization of the structures by different marine species. This helps identify trends in species richness, abundance, and diversity, offering a snapshot of the reef's ecological health. Using photographic data, we can track the growth of coral, sponges, and other sessile organisms on the structures. We also take video footage of our structures which allows us to assess the behavioural interactions of marine species with our structures.

The funding also allowed me to network with local fishers and scientists to discuss the future potential of the project. Community involvement in the project is key and we have engaged relevant peoples (‘stakeholders’) in the community to be involved in the project. Through our research and conservation efforts, we aim to leave a lasting positive impact on Tobago's marine environment. By combining scientific expertise, community engagement, and innovative restoration techniques, we hope to set a precedent for other regions grappling with coral reef degradation. Together, we can safeguard these precious underwater ecosystems and ensure a vibrant future for Tobago's coastal biodiversity.