Abandoned Oil Rigs Teem with Marine Life

Oil rigs off the coast of California have become accidental hotspots of marine activity. The platforms that once pumped fossil fuels have largely fallen into disuse. Many marine species have turned these abandoned man-made structures into homes. This is because the oil platform structure acts as a sort of artificial coral reef. However, now the future of the oil rigs, and the marine species that call them home, has come into question.

Source: Quartz/YouTube

Built between the late 1960s and late 1980s, California’s 27 oil rigs are slowly falling into disuse. Only 15 of the platforms are still used by the fossil fuel industry. Yet the longevity of the platforms has led to a surge of life beneath the ocean’s surface. Smaller species began to call these oil rigs home first; the larger species followed. Now the artificial reefs created by the oil platforms are home to an estimated billions of creatures. A study published in 2014 even suggests that the environments created by these oil rigs are some of the most productive habitats in the world’s oceans. Productivity is determined by the biomass of a particular area. This study found that these artificial reefs formed from abandoned oil rigs could potentially be up to 27 times as productive as California’s natural reefs. 

Despite their newfound importance as marine habitats, it is unclear what the future of the oil rigs is. As they are decommissioned, some environmental groups argue that the fossil fuel companies who built them should be responsible for removing them completely. These groups cite the rigs’ unappealing appearances and unnatural qualities as reasons for their removal. They also argue that allowing the rigs to remain as converted reefs offers oil companies a way to shirk responsibility for their negative environmental actions. This is because converting the rigs into reefs rather than removing them is much less costly. Yet many marine biologists argue against this. Instead, they say that the oil rigs should be turned into artificial coral reefs.

Other locals have turned disused oil rigs into artificial reefs with success. In the Gulf of Mexico, hundreds of rigs have been turned into artificial reefs, providing habitat for marine life. However, these rigs sit in much shallower waters. Although the same type of process could be carried out in California, the process would be different due to the deeper water the rigs sit in.

There are many points in favor of allowing the decommissioned oil rigs to remain as artificial reefs. For one, removing the rigs from the seafloor would be costly and require the use of explosives. Another reason that marine biologists argue that the reefs should be allowed to stay is because they are thriving ecosystems filled with living inhabitants. Additionally, the fish who call these oil rigs home do not seem to be suffering adverse effects due to the oil rigs. 

Sign this petition Urging the U.S. to Reduce Reliance on Fossil Fuels!

There’s Only One Green Planet Tee by Tiny Rescue: Climate Collection

Related Content: 

• Awesome Abandoned Places Around the World Occupied by Animals
• The Decline of Sea Glass Due to the Popularity of Plastics
• Plastic Pollution on Coral Reefs Found at Crazy Depths
• What Does Your Love for Cheese Have to Do with Dying Coral Reefs?
• How Coral Reefs Can Survive Climate Change

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade repeatedly.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!