Abstract

Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR), Mineral Management Service (MMS) and petroleum companies are working together to utilize decommissioned oil and gas platforms in the northern Gulf of Mexico for offshore artificial reef development in a program commonly known as “Rigs to Reef”. Expanding on Title II of the National Fishing Enhancement Act of 1984, the National Marine Fisheries Service published a National Artificial Reef Plan. This plan opened the door to federal support for offshore artificial reef projects, which the MMS and coastal states expanded on further to develop the Rigs to Reef program to stimulate conservation minded reuse of oil and gas production platforms for offshore hard bottom habitat. The average platform jacket can provide up to 1.2 hectares of hard bottom habitat for marine invertebrates and fishes. Submerged platform jackets currently provide habitat for thousands of marine species in the northern Gulf of Mexico. MDMR artificial reef personnel are using the Rigs to Reef program to work cooperatively with oil and gas companies to utilize these decommissioned structures for enhancing fish and invertebrate habitat which could aid in the conservation and rehabilitation of important reef fish such as red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and benefit commercial and recreational fisheries.

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