University of West Florida researchers began surveying sites off Perdido Key before six Walter Marine reefs were deployed in 2016. Their study compared conditions before and after deployment to measure changes in fish communities, primary production and nutrient cycling.
Researchers observed fish gathering around the pyramid and disc-shaped structures within weeks. Their larger question was whether the reefs simply concentrated fish or helped improve survival and production. The project formed part of Gulf restoration work funded after the Deepwater Horizon spill.
