Reef Enhancement of Fisheries at Aquaculture Sites (REFAS)

Our REFAS project focused on deploying our patented Reef Cubes® to protect and enhance local biodiversity at a key aquaculture site, facilitating enhancement in species numbers and proving the viability of artificial reefs for sustainable marine farming.

We have provided greater ecological opportunities using our nature-inclusive designs, facilitating ecosystem creation for numerous marine species. Initial results proved greater habitat complexity, a more diverse range of species and increase in species capacity due to the shelter from predation provided. Of particular interest, were the numbers of Brown Crab and European lobster moving into the site – validating our research that both species are more abundant around aquaculture sites, justifying the viability for future projects and potential food sources.

In a short space of time, we have not only enabled a new habitat, but also protected our site from destructive fishing practices - our monitoring programme enables us to demonstrate to local fisherman, mariners and councillors, the positive social benefits our project can bring via greater species numbers, variety and highlighting the awareness needed to approach these options sustainably. Destructive fishing practices have removed a lot of the hard substrate and natural features of the existing seabed that impacted prior species decline. Via engagement with key audiences, such as the local fishermen’s organisation, we increased the shellfish and crustacean tagging to provide valuable data on species movement, provided better future fishing grounds and will remain hands-on, as active stewards of our environment to showcase the good that be delivered when working with nature.

As a company driving preservation and restoration, we take responsibility for global sustainability across all marine activities. The effects of climate change are visible globally, from species decline to habitat destruction. In developing this project, we facilitated the cultivation of ocean flora and fauna, demonstrating our ocean’s ability to recover from often human-led activity, reducing our negative impacts and moving toward Net Zero.

This is our target and underpins our design ethos to improve the well-being of our oceans now and for future generations. As well as demonstrating biodiversity gain, this project highlights the feasibility of our Marine Crete® to deliver carbon neutral benefits across sub-sea infrastructure and particularly, Offshore Wind.

We maintain our purpose-led business model, whilst incorporating scientific theory and the latest in carbon neutral, plastic-free design using materials that maximise species colonisation and can be left indefinitely – reducing recovery costs, closing the loop on our value chain and reducing our interference with nature by limiting unnecessary marine damage, ensuring we capitalise on our mission to provide a legacy for Life Below Water.

More information

Email: tom@arcmarine.co.uk