Month: March 2026

EXPLORING ARITICIAL REEFS

Artificial reefs are structures placed on the ocean floor to create habitat for marine life.

They are designed to mimic natural rocky reefs that many species depend on for shelter, feeding, and spawning.Artificial reefs can be created using materials such as specially designed concrete modules, rock structures, or carefully prepared ships and offshore structures. Over time, algae, invertebrates, and corals begin to grow on these surfaces, attracting small fish and eventually larger species.

These structures can provide habitat for species that prefer complex rocky environments, including rockfish, lingcod, and many other reef-associated fish found along the Pacific coast.

Artificial reefs may help:

  • Provide shelter for juvenile fish
  • Increase habitat complexity on sandy bottoms
  • Support reef-associated species such as rockfish and lingcod
  • Create areas for marine organisms to grow and reproduce

Scientists continue studying artificial reefs to better understand how they influence marine ecosystems and fish populations. While reefs can provide habitat, researchers also evaluate how they affect fish behavior, recruitment, and long-term ecosystem balance.

As part of its mission to promote ocean education and fisheries stewardship, OCEAN is exploring ideas like artificial reefs as potential tools to support marine habitat and sustainable fisheries.

Learn more:
Read additional information about artificial reefs from NOAA.org

Saving rockfish with decending devices

Saving Rockfish: How Descending Devices Help

Rockfish are an important part of Pacific Northwest fisheries, but they face a unique challenge when caught in deep water. When rockfish are brought rapidly to the surface, the sudden pressure change can cause a condition called barotrauma, which may prevent the fish from returning to depth on its own.

To help address this issue, anglers are encouraged to use descending devices when releasing rockfish that cannot be kept. These tools allow fishermen to return fish safely back to the depth where they were caught, increasing their chances of survival.

Descending devices work by attaching the fish to a weighted line and lowering it back down through the water column. Once the fish reaches the appropriate depth, the device releases it so it can swim away.

Using descending devices helps:

  • Improve survival of released rockfish
  • Support sustainable recreational fisheries
  • Protect long-lived species that take many years to mature

Many Pacific rockfish species are slow-growing and extremely long-lived, with some capable of living more than 100 years. Because of this, proper release practices play an important role in maintaining healthy fish populations.

Today, many fisheries regulations encourage or require anglers to carry descending devices when fishing for groundfish species.

By using the right tools and techniques, anglers can help ensure that rockfish populations remain healthy for future generations of fishermen.

Learn More

Learn More

For additional information about rockfish biology and conservation, explore the Rockfish Rundown from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

🔗 Rockfish Rundown from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
https://www.fws.gov/story/rockfish-rundown

You can also watch our educational video explaining how descending devices help protect rockfish on the OCEAN Resources page.

🔗 Watch the video on our Resources page