MATI — The ongoing decline of natural coral reef ecosystems due to human-induced pressures challenges scientists to find precise, bio-inspired marine rehabilitation alternatives. Addressing this urgent need, Rheacin A. Polestico, Lea A. Jimenez, Amy G. Ponce, Lorjie B. Bation, and Ariel C. Eballe from Davao Oriental State University conducted a pioneering study in 2026 on early fish community development within modern artificial structures. Published in the East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, this paper serves as an essential baseline proving the efficacy of three-dimensional (3D) printed clay technology in restoring damaged coastal habitats.
Degraded natural coral reefs in the Philippines have long caused drops in coastal fish production and overexploitation across traditional fishing zones. Conventional methods using discarded tires, scrap metals, or concrete blocks often underperform, functioning merely as fish-aggregating devices rather than true habitat rehabilitation tools. The introduction of 3D-printed Artificial Clay Reefs (ACRs) presents a superior solution, as they replicate the physical complexity of natural reefs with meticulously controlled shapes, cavities, and microhabitat textures.
To monitor the performance of these structures, the research team from Davao Oriental State University conducted direct underwater surveys in Pujada Bay, City of Mati, Davao Oriental, exactly six months after installation. This evaluation utilized a modified, non-destructive Fish Visual Census technique, blending point counts for highly mobile species, belt transects for conspicuous demersal fishes, and line transects for cryptic or juvenile populations. The assessment focused on measuring fish abundance, species composition, fishery categories, trophic groups, and diversity indices within the deployment zone.
The visual census results demonstrated highly positive early success, documenting 250 individual fishes belonging to 27 species across 11 distinct families. The early-stage community was heavily dominated by non-target reef-associated fishes at 70.4 percent, primarily pomacentrids (damselfishes) such as Pomacentrus alexanderae and Amblyglyphidodon curacao. These small-bodied fish species actively utilized the deliberate cracks and cavities of the 3D-printed clay modules as critical shelter from apex predators and daily refuge.
Despite the dominance of smaller species, the presence of target fishery species at 29.6 percent—including rabbitfishes, surgeonfishes, parrotfishes, and groupers—indicates that vital ecological roles have successfully commenced. The establishment of diverse trophic groups, ranging from planktivores and omnivores to herbivore-detritivores, is crucial for controlling nuisance algal growth and keeping the reef substrate clean. The recorded Shannon-Wiener diversity index of 2.494 indicates a moderate level of diversity with no single species fully dominating the assemblage.
The implications of this field research offer strategic guidance for marine protected area management policies and seascape conservation frameworks in the Philippines. The 3D-printed clay reef technology has proven highly effective as an initial catalyst for marine biodiversity recovery. However, policy creators and sanctuary managers are encouraged to couple these technological deployments with strict local enforcement against physical anchor damage and illegal fishing to allow long-term ecological succession to mature.
Author Profiles
Rheacin A. Polestico — Davao Oriental State University
Lea A. Jimenez — Davao Oriental State University
Amy G. Ponce — Davao Oriental State University
Lorjie B. Bation — Davao Oriental State University
Ariel C. Eballe — Davao Oriental State University
Research Sources
Article Title: Early Fish Community Development in a 3D-Printed Artificial Clay Reef System in Pujada Bay, Philippines
Journal Name: East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR)
Publication Year: 2026
DOI: [https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v5i7.191](https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v5i7.191)
Official URL: [https://journaleajmr.my.id/index.php/eajmr](https://journaleajmr.my.id/index.php/eajmr)
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