In 2006 SAMS oversaw the completion of Europe's largest experimental artificial reef located in Loch Linnhe off the island of Lismore just five miles away from SAMS. The Loch Linnhe Artificial Reef has been designed to facilitate research into the interaction between man-made structures and their receiving environment, including potential beneficial effects on fisheries and local biodiversity.

The main reef complex consists of five groups of six individual reefs deployed in water that is between 12m and 30m deep and subject to a range of current speeds.  Each reef, of approximately 4000 solid concrete blocks or blocks containing two voids, stands 3m - 4.5m high and is 15m - 20m in diameter.  The two block types used in the reef complex are allowing us to test the effect of habitat complexity on what lives in, and around, man-made offshore structures.  

For more details on the reef, please follow this link or contact Dr Tom Wilding.