Evaluating ecological risk in artificial habitat failure: A systematic review and risk assessment considering noise and light pollution in the marine environment

Artificial reefs (ARs) are being increasingly deployed in the marine environment. Many deployments fail to achieve management goals, which can result in negative ecological, environmental and socioeconomic consequences. AR performance is influenced by characteristics of the reef design and deployment location. To ensure the success of AR deployments in achieving set goals, risk evaluation of AR failure is necessary. Traditional risk assessments evaluate risks from the perspective of the activity impacting the surrounding environment and the associated organisms. Here we propose a new approach to risk evaluation, where we consider the risks that may influence the likelihood of the artificial reef deployment failing to achieve set goals. AR deployments commonly occur in areas exposed noise pollution, remain poorly understood and regulated. Applying a systematic literature review, this study has summarised and evaluated the known impacts of coastal noise and light pollution on fish and invertebrates. This data informed the development of a novel risk assessment to evaluate the likelihood of achieving AR deployments which successfully function as marine habitats when exposed to these pollutants. Risk mitigation strategies have also been explored to provide managers with the best practice advice when determining deployment location. The presented risk assessment can be employed for both planning and regulating purposes. It provides an efficient, repeatable assessment of the risks that can lead to AR failure and sets a defensible ecological standard for management decisions.