Placement of artificial reefs

The Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 (Sea Dumping Act) regulates the placement of artificial reefs in Australian waters where the purpose of the reef is:

• recreational use (e.g., scuba diving, fishing, and surfing)
• increasing or concentrating populations of marine plants and animals.

Organisations seeking to place artificial reefs for these purposes require a sea dumping permit

Permits

An application for an artificial reef permit within Australian waters (except in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP)) must be obtained from us. To place an artificial reef within the GBRMP, you must apply for a permit through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (contact: assessments@gbrmpa.gov.au). Additional authorisation may also be required under relevant state or territory legislation.

Penalties for placing materials to create an artificial reef without a permit can attract fines of up to 2000 penalty units, imprisonment or both.

Permits are necessary to ensure that:

• artificial reefs are created for legitimate purposes (i.e., not waste disposal)
• appropriate sites are selected
• the materials are suitable and prepared properly
• there are no significant adverse impacts on the marine environment
• the reef does not pose a danger to navigation, fishers, divers, or other users of the sea.

Applicants should contact us as early as practicable to ensure a comprehensive permit application is submitted. We advise you apply for your permit before you acquire the material for your proposed artificial reef.

Key phases in preparing an artificial reef permit application include:

• stakeholder consultations to ensure that there are no user group conflicts
• evaluation and securing of adequate resources
• appropriate site selection
• material preparation
• determining the method of placement
• preparing for post-placement monitoring and management
• decommissioning.

Applicants are required to consult with relevant stakeholders including government agencies and community and industry organisations prior to applying to place an artificial reef.

Resources

Applicants should ensure they have the resources (committed funds, personnel, expertise, equipment and insurance) to construct and deploy the reef and to carry out long term monitoring requirements.

It is essential that sufficient time is spent preparing the material to ensure both environmental protection and diver safety.

Site selection and layout

Consider how environmental factors such as: water depth, currents, substrate type, wave action, biota, spatial arrangement, orientation to currents and vertical relief can have a bearing on the suitability of an artificial reef site.

Other factors that must be considered include environmental impact, navigation safety, commercial fishing activities and diver safety. It is essential that the proposal has community support and that the site is accessible to the public.

As a general rule, an artificial reef should not be placed on top of natural reefs or close to sensitive sites, such as, coral habitat or sea grass beds. Sandy or rocky sites devoid of benthic biota are usually selected.

Materials

Not all materials are suitable for the creation of artificial reefs or for particular sites.

The materials for reef construction need to be durable and have a large multi-dimensional surface area for colonisation of sessile organisms, and several entrance and exit holes for mobile species, water flow and light penetration. The reef components should be designed for long term stability and be suitably weighted and/or secured so they cannot move around on the sea floor.

All materials need to be free of noxious substances and residues. Oil and hydraulic fluids (including from inside vessel engines), plastics and any loose components should be removed.

Obsolete vessels that are to be used as dive wrecks must be made safe for divers. Vessels will need to be properly prepared before sinking. This includes removal of any hatches, sharp or protruding objects, cabling and wires that are liable to break free over time, excess equipment on board and any other potential hazards.

Each compartment accessible to divers will need a second exit. Vessels should be sunk in a sheltered area in waters less than 30 metres. Applicants will need to carry out long term monitoring of the artificial reef and undertake any maintenance to ensure diver safety.

The department has developed a draft interim policy on the use of plastics in artificial reefs. Public consultation on the draft interim policy was undertaken during April 2022. The department will review the stakeholder feedback to finalise the policy and inform our advice to the government. We expect the finalised policy to be published in the first half of 2023.

Draft Interim Policy on the use of plastics in Artificial Reefs (DOCX 80 KB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

Monitoring

Your permit application will require a commitment to long-term monitoring and management.  This is to ensure the artificial reef is achieving its purpose, continues to be safe for users and have minimal environmental impacts. You may submit a long-term monitoring and management plan as part of your permit application.

UNEP Guidelines

The London Convention and Protocol/UNEP Guidelines for the Placement of Artificial Reefs provide guidance on the construction, deployment, and ongoing management of artificial reefs. One of the main objectives of these guidelines is to ensure that the development of artificial reefs is consistent with the aims and provisions of the London Protocol, which Australia is a Party to. We suggest you refer to these guidelines when preparing your permit application.

Permit application form and fee

The application fee for an artificial reef permit is $10,000.

For information on how to apply for a permit and pay the fee visit: how to apply for a sea dumping permit.