Environmental impact assessment of a scrap tyre artificial reef

Scrap tyres have been widely used around the world to construct artificial reefs. They are a popular construction material, being readily available at no cost, durable, and with large void spaces. However, published information about the environmental impact of tyres in the marine environment is limited. When used, successful colonization by epibiota and mobile species seems to be taken as empirical proof of their suitability. In 1998, an experimental scrap tyre artificial reef was constructed in Poole Bay to provide data on the environmental impact of the material. Epibiotic colonization is being monitored for comparison with that on concrete control modules deployed at the same time. Samples of the epibiota have been analysed for heavy metals and organic compounds. Results from the first year of deployment are presented.