The Malaysian Fisheries

Artificial reefs
Artificial reefs are one type of fish-attracting
device which aims to enhance the biological
productivity of fisheries resources to
rehabilitate and conserve marine habitats,
and to help generate recovery and increase
stocks of fish. They comprise groups of
discarded tyres, concrete pipes, rocks or
other materials sunk at suitable places in the
sea to generate growth of corals and other
organisms on the surfaces. They also include
wrecks of fishing vessels. Fish have been
found to colonize any artificial reef within
four months of construction.
In all, 58 artificial reefs have been
constructed along the coast of Peninsula
Malaysia. About 70 per cent of these are
located off the east coast, because the west
coast waters have the disadvantage of a soft Concrete reef balls are put in the sea to create
muddy bottom and cloudy waters which artificial reefs to attract fish
discourage coral growth.
Fish congregate around an artificial reef An artificial reef can also be formed from
created by a car wreck off Mersing, in the artificial structures, such as this concrete
southern state of Johore. culvert.
 LANGKAWI ISLANDS

North

Kuala Kedah
PAYAR ISLANDS
ALOR SETAR

SONGSONG ISLANDS
STRAITS OF MALACCA
Merbok
Muka Head Marine
Research Station USM
Kota Kuala
Muda

HABITAT CLASSES PENANG Georgetown Butterworth

Permanent shallow marine Intertidal mudflats
waters (5 m depth contour)

Mangrove Reclaimed land

Coral reefs Rocky shore

Seagrass bed Sandy shore

Manmade island
Scale 1:80 000

Existing Coastal Habitats

 Sinularia flexibilis Dendronephthya klunzengeri

Gorgonia ventalina Heteractis magnifica