Miami Beach artificial reefs drew nearly 98,000 fish across 146 species, study found

A 2002 study assessed 12 artificial reefs constructed off Miami Beach using three different materials: limestone boulders, concrete-gravel aggregate, and tyre-chip concrete. Divers conducted surveys every two months between October 1998 and February 2001, logging fish species, counts, sizes, and spiny lobster presence. In total, researchers recorded 97,826 fish belonging to 146 species across the reef sites. The study found no meaningful difference in fish abundance, biomass, or species diversity based on the construction material used. However, comparing conditions before and after the reefs were deployed confirmed that they significantly boosted local fish populations and species richness.