Colonisation of a Newly Deployed Artificial Reef Vessel Within a Marine Protected Area in the Eastern Mediterranean: Establishing a Baseline for Long-Term Ecological Monitoring

Artificial reefs (ARs) can provide structurally complex habitats that support the development of benthic and fish communities, but their ecological development remains poorly documented in Cyprus. This study provides the first biological assessment of the AR vessel Lambousa II approximately one year after deployment within the Boroklini–Larnaka Marine Protected Area (MPA). Fish assemblages were assessed using underwater visual census, timed visual searches and baited remote underwater video, while benthic communities were investigated using photoquadrats and brush sampling. The vessel supported 13 fish species, comprising six native and seven non-indigenous, with marked differences in abundance and composition among vessel sections. Benthic surveys identified 11 biological taxa in photoquadrats and 18 taxa through brush sampling, with a pronounced spatial variation in community development. Five benthic species were classified as non-indigenous, including Diala semistriata, which represents the first recording for Cyprus. The occurrence of commercially important fish species and early life stages further indicates that the vessel may provide shelter and feeding opportunities. Overall, Lambousa II has rapidly developed a heterogeneous biological community within its first year, providing an important baseline for long-term monitoring of AR development and associated biodiversity.