Tag: Exmouth King Reef

King Reef’s “underwater laboratory” boosts scientific understanding of artificial reef benefits

Exmouth’s King Reef is proving a win for both recreational fishing and marine science, with a growing body of research highlighting the ecological value of artificial reefs built with repurposed steel structures.

Driven by a partnership between Recfishwest and Woodside Energy, the project has grown into a broader collaboration including Curtin University, WA Museum, Blue Media Exmouth, Exmouth Game Fishing Club (EGFC), and Underwater Focus.

“From underwater video and citizen science, to sampling the marine environment for DNA, we’re building a deeper understanding of how King Reef is fostering a vibrant and productive marine ecosystem,” said Recfishwest Artificial Reefs Officer Eligh Quigley.

“This work is sure to become increasingly important as marine heatwaves and coral bleaching events are forecast to become more frequent, with artificial reefs assisting in building resilience in the marine environment.”

Below, we explore some of the diverse research being done on King Reef.

Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUVs)

Recfishwest conducts twice-yearly Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) surveys to track reef development, supported by local charter operators. BRUV monitoring is done through an underwater video system attached to a bait basket and lowered to the seafloor at selected locations. Since 2018, over 120 species have been recorded at King Reef.

Curtin University Professor Euan Harvey noted King Reef’s biodiversity outpaces nearby natural habitats, underlining its ecological value.

Check out Recfishwest’s latest BRUV footage from King Reef in the video below!

Citizen science data collection – King of the Reef fishing comp

To celebrate King Reef’s biodiversity and great fishing, Recfishwest, Woodside and EGFC launched the ‘King of the Reef’ fishing competition. Running from June to September 2024, fishers submitted catches through the Track My Fish app.

With over 280 fish entered by nearly 80 participants — about 30% from outside Exmouth — the local engagement and tourism benefits artificial reefs can create are clear. A total of 20 different species were captured and logged at King Reef alone. The competition returns in 2025.

Just two of the great species that were landed during the King of the Reef competition, with black snapper and giant trevally turning up in good numbers.

Underwater media

Award-winning photographer Violeta J. Brosig of Blue Media Exmouth captures vivid reef imagery, identifying cryptic fish species not seen in BRUV footage and helping to illustrate the ecological development of King Reef. Violeta’s high-definition media provides a great window for fishers and the wider community into the rich marine life thriving on these amazing structures!

Some of Violeta J. Brosig’s incredible underwater photography from King Reef.

Remote Underwater Camera Systems

In 2024, Recfishwest partnered with Underwater Focus to trial live-streaming underwater cameras. More than 500 videos were extracted from the live steaming, capturing key species like mackerel, coral trout, and even first-time sightings like pennant trevally. An innovative UV-cleaning system kept lenses clear during the extended camera deployment.

eDNA Sampling

Partnering with Curtin University and the WA Museum, Recfishwest is exploring King Reef’s biodiversity using a combination of visual and environmental DNA (eDNA) methods, with a major focus on habitat-forming animals, including corals and sponges.

eDNA methods allow scientists to detect a wide range of species through sampling the marine environment for DNA, reducing the time that divers need to be in the water. Sampling at King Reef is set for mid-2025 and will help show how the marine communities flourishing at King Reef compare with nearby natural and artificial habitats.

Benthic biodiversity at King Reef, captured by Blue Media Exmouth.

King Reef’s various monitoring programs delivered by Recfishwest and facilitated and funded by Woodside Energy build on years of research, in partnership with Curtin University and the local fishing community. Outcomes from this research will assist in the planning and design of artificial reefs in the future, by showcasing the ecological value of different materials such as the repurposed steel modules. But best of all, it will show how these novel ecosystems can create more resilient environments and make fishing even better!

The past, present and future of WA’s artificial reefs and Recfishwest’s role!

Ever wanted to know the history of how artificial reefs became so successful around the world and the future reefs set to make a splash off our coastline?  

Recfishwest’s Programs Manager James Florisson also spoke with ABC Kimberley/Pilbara on the artificial reefs planned to be placed off the Broome and Carnarvon coasts along with FADs in our northern waters! Catch James’ radio interview by watching the video below!

Mark Pagano (DPIRD’s Aquatic Resource Management) also spoke to 6PR’s Glen Jakovich on artificial reef developments in the pipeline across WA, why certain reef materials are more productive, what species fishers can expect to catch and much more! You can catch Mark’s chat by clicking here. 

Want to know more about how Recfishwest is driving artificial reef deployments around WA? Click here.  

 

Happy 5th anniversary to Exmouth’s King Reef – a thriving fish habitat just five years after placement on the seabed

Five years ago, all that was there was the barren sandy seabed. 

Today, the area is teeming with vibrant colour, exotic coral and hundreds of marine species, including an array of fish species like trevally, coral trout, cod and mangrove jack.  

What has caused this dramatic transformation? The deployment of the six large, repurposed steel structures and nearly 50 concrete purpose-built modules that makes up King Reef – the fastest developing artificial reef in Australia! 

This latest spectacular video footage by underwater photographer Violeta J. Brosig from Blue Media Exmouth captures the rich biodiversity that has grown on the reef and seen the number of fish species observed on the reef rise to more than 100.  

In 2018, a collaboration between Recfishwest, the Exmouth local community, DPIRD, BHP, NERA, Subcon and Curtin University resulted in King Reef – the first integrated artificial reef deployed in the southern hemisphere covering an area of 27,000m³ – roughly the area of five footy ovals.  

With ongoing support from Woodside Energy, the reef has rapidly transformed the area from an underwater desert into a marine oasis with coral trout, bluebone, spangled emperor, red emperor, mangrove jack, cod, Spanish mackerel and even sailfish seen patrolling around the reef.  

An array of species are now commonly sighted by locals and tourists, spicing up the fishing opportunities and species diversity throughout the Gulf. 

Exmouth Tackle and Camping owner Steve Riley, who was instrumental in turning vision of a repurposed reef in Exmouth Gulf into a reality, said it provides great fishing for fishers in small boats.  

“King Reef is a very easy and accessible spot to fish and it’s brimming with life, so it’s perfect for small boat owners to get out for a fish,” he said.  

“Our record time for reaching the reef, having a troll and having two Spanish mackerel in the boat is seven minutes, that’s how good the fishing has become there!  

“Red emperor, amberjack and Rankin cod were barely reported at all throughout Exmouth Gulf before King Reef’s deployment, now these species are trickling outwards from the structure in great numbers and snorkelers have reported seeing red emperor in only four metres of water within the Gulf. It’s an unexpected, but welcome surprise.”   

Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said, “King Reef is a perfect example of how repurposed structures like these can quickly create productive, abundant underwater habitats. It is a huge credit to the Exmouth community and all our partners who have helped bring this dynamic reef system to life. 

“Deploying habitat enhancement structures like King Reef is an internationally recognised and scientifically proven method to increase the productivity of our oceans. We are looking forward to seeing more of the structures creating new vibrant marine habitat like this in other parts of WA in the near future.” 

Check out more stunning imagery captured by Blue Media Exmouth below, showing the thriving fish and coral reef communities!