Artificial wrecks: Unwanted consequences of the deliberate sinking of ships for recreational diving

Résumé fourni par la source

Artificial reefs are submerged human-made objects. In particular, the artificial wrecks are intentionally submerged obsolete ships. Once deployed, these wrecks are rapidly colonized by diverse benthic communities. Currently, this effect is positively valued by the recreational diving industry, which uses this colonization effect as one of the main arguments to promote the deployment of artificial wrecks. However, there is increasing evidence that artificial wrecks are not a substitute for natural reefs and may alter complex ecological processes such as food web structure and increase the likelihood of invasive species establishment and spread. Here, we discuss our main concerns related to the unintended socioecological consequences of the creation of artificial wrecks, problematizing the paradigm that this practice favours marine conservation. Although we recognize that artificial wrecks have positive economic, social and even some environmental outcomes, we argue that the benefits are often usufructed by only a portion of society and that this practice requires a broader discussion. Finally, we also discuss the management implications of these concerns and propose alternatives to encourage recreational diving through the adoption of more environmentally sustainable and socially participative approaches. Hopefully, this will lead to better and more consensual practices for the management of coastal areas.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.