We conducted 87 transects around 11 platforms, encompassing 32,816 m2 of habitat and we made two dives (13 transects, 5469 m2) on natural reefs in shallow (46–47 m) and somewhat deeper (145 m) waters.
There is increasing evidence that some California oil platforms form important
habitats for a number of economically important fishes. We asked to what extent
Love, M. S., M. M. Nishimoto, S. Clark, and A. S. Bull.
1) The fish assemblages found around the Summerland platforms are similar to those around other
platforms situated in the same bottom depths in the Santa Barbara Channel (i.e., Holly and Gilda);
An oil pipeline and its surrounding seafloor, located in the Santa Barbara Channel, southern California, were surveyed for fishes using a manned research submersible.
In 1996 we surveyed the fishes living on and around seven offshore oil platforms in the Santa Barbara
Channel area. We conducted belt transects at various depths in the midwater and around the bottoms of each
Between 1995 and 2002, we surveyed fish assemblages at seven oil platforms off southern and central California using the manned research submersible Delta. At each platform, there is a large horizontal beam situated at or near the sea floor.
Platforms were important fishing locations for the
sportfishing party vessel surveyed. About 18% of its
total fishing time and 17% of the total catch occurred
around the platforms. This compares with about 21%
