Analysing the Role of Artificial Reefs in Blue Tourism: Vilamoura Artificial Reef (South Portugal)

Abstract

Artificial reefs (AR) are essentially implemented to increase marine biodiversity, which can indirectly benefit the local ecosystem and human communities. Their presence can attract a wide range of marine organisms and promote recreational activities, attracting anglers and scuba divers, improving local tourism. The aim of this work is to analyse how the Vilamoura AR (Southern Portugal) is useful to the sustainable coastal (blue) tourism in the area. Nowadays, with the help of tools such as vessels tracking intelligence and the use of direct georeferentiation, it is possible to infer about the use of artificial reefs by analysing patterns of recreational vessels around the AR area. The application of those tools reenforced the importance of combining methodologies such as not only monitoring artificial reefs but also to have interviews with the stakeholders to better understand the recreational and blue tourism potential of the Vilamoura AR.