Rigs and reefs: A comparison of the fish communities at two artificial reefs, a production platform, and a natural reef in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

From the Significant Conclusions: “Overall, we found that fish biomass per cubic meter and density around the standing oil and gas platform were higher than the artificial reefs or natural reefs. Comparison of the mean biomass per cubic meter (Sv) found at the standing platform and over and immediately around the two reef sites and the WFGB terraces clearly indicate an order of magnitude difference between the standing platform and other sites, suggesting that standing platforms supported greater fish biomass per cubic meter. Our results are in support of previous findings that when a platform is converted into an artificial reef by toppling in place or by partial removal, it loses a significant portion of the fish community. Fish biomass per cubic meter at the artificial reef sites was similar to the upper terrace of the nearby natural reef. In each habitat, we tended to find higher fish densities in habitats with more vertical structure.”