Hello, My name is Stefan Kolle and I am currently working with the NGO Archipelagos, Institute of Marine Conservation in Greece. We are currently running a feasibility study for site selection on artificial recruitment reef application in the eastern Aegean Sea. As we have several marine mammal populations in the area of interest, we are looking for literature describing the relationship between marine mammals and artificial reef projects. On the one hand our project is intended to help with rebuilding the local fisheries stocks, thereby increasing the availability of food fish for local monk seal and dolphin populations. Based on this we consider that it would be beneficial having an artificial recruitment reef in the distribution area of our local marine mammal populations. On the other hand, artificial reef programs in Scotland have explicitly avoided placing recruitment reefs in the main distribution of local cetacean populations. The OSPAR guidelines for artificial reef development mentioned that careful consideration should be given to “known migration routes of fish and marine mammals”, however not specifying any exact measures. We are therefore wondering if the placement of artificial recruitment reef systems in the distribution areas of marine mammal populations should be considered beneficial (increased food fish availability) or detrimental (possible displacement effects?), considering that the artificial reef structures in mind would serve as a protected areas with no direct fishing activity allowed at the sites. Best regards, Stefan Kolle.