Editing Artificial reef (section)

===Erosion prevention===
[[File:Oyster reef in the bay made from oyster castles, about 60% complete (22620795960).jpg|thumb|Oyster castle reef, Gandy's Beach shoreline protection project<ref name="Bredes">{{cite journal |last1=Bredes |first1=Amy L. |last2=Miller |first2=Jon K. |last3=Kerr |first3=Laura |last4=Brown |first4=Dana Rose |title=Observations of Wave Height Amplification Behind an Oyster Castle Breakwater System in a High-Energy Environment: Gandys Beach, NJ |journal=Frontiers in Built Environment |date=2022 |volume=8 |doi=10.3389/fbuil.2022.884795 |issn=2297-3362 |doi-access=free }}</ref>]]

Some artificial reefs are used to prevent [[coastal erosion]].<ref name="Brandon">{{cite magazine |last1=Brandon |first1=Elissaveta M. |title=To Fight Coastal Erosion, Design a Bespoke Artificial Reef |url=https://www.wired.com/story/reefy-modular-reef-costal-erosion/ |magazine=Wired |date=March 28, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Cusick">{{cite news |last1=Cusick |first1=Daniel |title='Reef Balls' Gain Traction for Shoreline Protection |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/reef-balls-gain-traction-for-shoreline-protection/ |work=Scientific American |date=May 17, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
Geometric and hydrodynamic properties of reefs are particularly important in determining their ability to mitigate coastal erosion.<ref name="Escudero">{{cite journal |last1=Escudero |first1=Mireille |last2=Reguero |first2=Borja G. |last3=Mendoza |first3=Edgar |last4=Secaira |first4=Fernando |last5=Silva |first5=Rodolfo |title=Coral Reef Geometry and Hydrodynamics in Beach Erosion Control in North Quintana Roo, Mexico |journal=Frontiers in Marine Science |date=2021 |volume=8 |doi=10.3389/fmars.2021.684732 |issn=2296-7745 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Kim">{{cite journal |last1=Kim |first1=Taeyoon |last2=Baek |first2=Seungil |last3=Kwon |first3=Yongju |last4=Lee |first4=Jooyong |last5=Cha |first5=Sung Min |last6=Kwon |first6=Soonchul |title=Improved Coastal Erosion Prevention Using a Hybrid Method with an Artificial Coral Reef: Large-Scale 3D Hydraulic Experiment |journal=Water |date=October 2020 |volume=12 |issue=10 |pages=2801 |doi=10.3390/w12102801 |language=en |issn=2073-4441 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
Artificial reefs to prevent erosion can be designed to act in multiple ways. Some are designed to force [[water waves|waves]] to deposit their energy offshore rather than directly on the coastline.

Other reefs are designed to hold [[sediment]] on beaches by trapping the sediment. Reefs are generally custom-designed for each unique zone.<ref name="Morang">{{cite journal |last1=Morang |first1=Andrew |last2=Waters |first2=Jeffrey P. |last3=Stauble |first3=Donald K. |title=Performance of Submerged Prefabricated Structures to Improve Sand Retention at Beach Nourishment Projects |journal=Journal of Coastal Research |date=1 November 2014 |volume=30 |issue=6 |pages=1140–1156 |doi=10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-13-00137.1 |s2cid=128833800 |url=https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-13-00137.1|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="Blacka"/><ref name="Black"/> Some are designed to support customizable habitat for local target species as well.<ref name="Brandon"/>