Les récifs artificiels - Etat des connaissances et recommandations

The "Artificial reefs" and "Repopulating" issues have been tackled by the Ifremer for a number of years without reaching a clear cut point of view, mainly for lack of socio-economic elements necessary to a rigorous analysis of these devices and practices. During a mission in Japan in January 2006, some Japanese experts, have presented to the head of the Ifremer a few examples of realisations related to these fields and conducted in their country. The head of the Ifremer realised the scope of such devices in Japan and expressed the wish to see an in-depth study carried out over there. In this purpose, the International Relationship Department organised and co-financed the three-month stay in Japan of a student from the University of Montpellier III, Sylvain Pioch. In the framework of his thesis on artificial reefs co-directed by the university and a research department, the BCEOM, this student had the opportunity to collect a large amount of information presented in a report: "Artificial reefs and repopulating in Japan". At the end of this mission, a work group was created to analyse this information and data, and to set them back in the French context in order for the Ifremer to position itself strategically in this field. André Gérard was entrusted with the coordination of this in-house work group involving aquaculture, fishing, coastal environment and economics specialists.