Oyster aquaculture cages provide fish habitat similar to natural structure with minimal differences based on farm location

Oyster aquaculture gear may augment natural seafloor by providing structured habitat for economically important fish species. Underwater video census was used to assess abundance and community composition on eastern oyster ( Crassostrea virginica ) shelf bag style off-bottom cages within rock reef habitat. During 2018, underwater cameras were mounted four study at a dense shellfish farm of 40-100 commercial (dense cage farm), single interspersed low relief (sparse amongst boulders (rock reef), an embayment off Milford, Connecticut, which is part Long Island Sound, in the United States. In 2019, similarly deployed two per each three farms Norwalk Westport, CT. Video recorded hourly eight-minute segments from 7 am pm. Data loggers monitored seawater temperature, light intensity, current speed. Fish (MaxN) calculated all videos. We compared between May September, boulder habitat, sparse across locations. black sea bass Centropristis striata ), scup Stenotomus chrysops tautog Tautoga onitis significantly higher than boulders, regardless number. Cunner Tautogolabrus adspersus when sites grouped. However pairwise comparisons indicated that cunner versus but not different. Abundance bass, scup, tautog, different 2019 Young-of-the-year occurred episodically during both years, with most abundant. corresponded seasonal changes temperature highest warmest temperatures. Light intensity speed explained less variation relative relationships inconsistent habitats locations Our results suggest multi-tiered contribute structure environments provide temperate similar reefs.