Fish and epifaunal community observations at an artificial reef near a natural coral reef:  Nineteen years at Platform High Island A389-A, from bare steel to coral habitat

Abstract

Since its installation 1 October 1981, the platform High Island A389-A has progressed from a bare steel structure in 125 m of water to a climax bluewater artificial reef community including a number of hermatypic coral species. The platform is located approximately one nautical mile from the edge of the well-developed coral reef at the East Flower Garden Bank, Gulf of Mexico. Since 1981, it was expected this structure would eventually be a site for successful colonization by coral larvae from the nearby Flower Garden Banks. The platform was surveyed as part of a multidisciplinary National Marine Fisheries/EPA-funded study over four seasons between October 1981 and October 1982, beginning just three weeks after installation. Both qualitative and semi-quantitative observations of fish species and attached epifaunal community are presented from those early surveys. Additional observations have been obtained periodically between 1982 and 1999. Hermatypic corals were first observed on the platform by the author and others in November 1990, although their size indicated that settlement had occurred more than one year previously. The continued development of new coral colonies and associated thriving reef fish populations has significance for the functionality of oil and gas structures as artificial reefs and diverse coral habitats. Early observations of fish taxa of various age classes allows some important statements regarding artificial reef recruitment and attraction issues.