Context: The Department of Fisheries has sanctioned 732 artificial reef units for 10 coastal states with a total investment of Rs 126 crore under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for rejuvenating coastal fisheries.

About Artificial Reefs:

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They are engineering technology interventions used to rehabilitate and/or improve natural habitats, increase productivity and manage aquatic resources including habitat enhancement (FAO, 2015).

Advantages of Artificial Reef (AR):

Similar to natural reefs, ARs are used for aggregating fish and provide a home for fish to live and grow, reduce wave damage on coasts, help regeneration of marine ecosystems and act as a carbon sink.
As per CMFRI (Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute), a two to three-fold increase in catch rates and efficiency can be realized. Thus saving fuel and energy costs leading to increased income of fishermen.
It Provides a firm substrate for marine life such as corals, algae and plankton to attach to and grow.
They provide favorable conditions for sea ranching and serve as spawning and nursery grounds for fish.
Enhance recreational fisheries, snorkeling, eco-tourism, creating suitable areas for diving and reducing conflicts.
AR structures restrict bottom trawling in the near shore areas thus helping the marine environment to regenerate and small-scale fishers get higher catch
One AR of 300m3 is expected to support 25-30 non-mechanized boats (CMFRI).

Natural Reef:

The coral reef is the most familiar type of natural reef.

A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals.
Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate.
It is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, supporting a wide variety of marine life.
They are also incredibly important to humans, providing coastal protection, food, and income from tourism and fisheries.

Despite the positives of building artificial reefs, we must preserve natural reefs.

Source: PIB