Creating New Marine Ecosystems
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
With its eerie, underwater-like hues
and morphing shapes, the black-lit ambience of Surfrider Foundation sponsor the
GlowZone in Huntington Beach made the perfect backdrop for marine scientists Emily
Callahan and Amber Jackson's presentation on turning decommissioned
oil and gas rigs into reefs to support marine ecosystems.
Co-founders of Blue Latitudes,
a non-profit organization that is studying the feasibility of converting rigs
into reefs, the duo works with partners around the world to come up with ways
to utilize the rigs in developing habitats for ocean sea life.
The U.S. Department of Interior says
there are over 500 reefed platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, providing
"shelter, food and other necessary elements for biodiversity and a
productive ocean. This creates a rich diversity of marine life, attracting
divers and anglers" and "increased tourism and commercial fishing
benefits for local economies."
Echoing this, Dr. Milton Love, a
marine biology professor at U.C., Santa Barbara, notes that the platforms as
habitats can be "more productive than coral reefs, more productive than
estuaries,”
In their presentation, Callahan and
Jackson emphasized their goal is to research, analyze and evaluate the
ecological, socio-economic, and advocacy issues related to rigs-to-reefs
conversions. This involves working with oil companies, environmental
organizations, government and community groups to determine whether a structure
is a good candidate for the conversion process.
On the 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30
list for their work in the energy sector, the two graduates of U.C. San Diego's
Scripps Institution of Oceanography say, "Our vision at Blue Latitudes is
to find silver linings in our oceans at the intersection of industry and the
environment" in order to find the best outcomes.
Callahan and Jackson acknowledge
that R2R programs have generated controversy due to concerns that the new
"reefs" might increase pollution from the rigs' toxic materials,
attract invasive species, and create safety hazards, while reducing oil
companies' liabilities.
And, it was one of the reasons that
the Surfrider Foundation's Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter invited the Blue
Latitudes founders to speak at a recent meeting. With important decisions to be
made about the world's unused oil platforms, informed discussion is essential.
Dr. Jerry Schubel, President and CEO
Aquarium of the Pacific, agrees. He says, "Blue Latitudes brings attention
to a misunderstood and controversial issue that warrants further study and
analysis”
With many of the world's coral reefs
at risk because of environmental changes, it's more important than ever to find
as many "silver linings" as we can.
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti
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