Fauna of offshore structures

Abstract

Divers surveyed the fishes and major invertebrates living around Platforms Hazel and Hilda and a natural rocky site in the Santa Barbara Channel and the wastewater outfall pipe in Santa Monica Bay. From the Conclusions: “The fauna around the offshore structures [platforms] is considerably more abundant than that of the surrounding soft-bottom area. The species composition at the artificial structures differs from that of the soft bottom, because these attract species that require a hard surface for attachment or crevices for refuge. At least in shallow water, the fauna around the oil platforms are more abundant and diverse than that of the outfalls and hard-bottom control areas. The species composition at both structures varies with depth.” The survey found that rockfishes were the dominant group at the two platforms. A list of the major fishes, motile invertebrates, and sessile invertebrates is provided for the platforms, outfall pipe, rocky bottom, and soft bottom.