France

France was the first European country to carry out experiments on artificial reefs, starting in 1968 with pilot reefs made of waste materials, including car bodies.

Greece

The construction of artificial reefs in Greece started in 2000, within the framework of the Multiannual Programme for Fishery Development, which includes specific action regarding the placement of artificial reefs as tools for the protection and management of fishery resources.

Italy

The first artificial reef came in 1970 and more than 70 reefs have been constructed along the Italian coast. Most of them are medium or large-scale reefs, with only a few small-scale experimental reefs used for research.

Spain

Artificial reefs in Spain started in 1987, when the first legal and policy regulation on this issue was laid down, even though no public funding was allocated for reef construction

United Kingdom

Six artificial reefs have been constructed along the British coast since 1984 for research on the effects of artificial structures on marine living organisms such as lobsters, as well as for leisure diving and education. Most of them are located off the English coast.

Source: Brazilian Journal of Oceanography

(China Daily European Weekly 09/25/2015 page16)