Understanding reefing and decommissioning should start with the science.

See our curated library of resources, publications, and more below.

Trending Top 3 Publications

  • Worldwide oil and gas platform decommissioning: A review of practices and reefing options

    This paper summarizes the history, practices, published science, and available information involved when considering the reefing option. It offers details on global decommissioning, and also issues specific to California.

  • Oil platforms off California are among the most productive marine fish habitats globally

    This paper presents how the oil and gas platforms off the coast of California have the highest secondary fish production per unit area of seafloor, about an order of magnitude higher than fish communities from other marine ecosystems.

  • Decommissioning and Rigs to Reefs in the Pacific Region

    This paper introduces the bill behind Rigs to Reefs in California, AB 2503. This bill enacted the California Marine Resources Legacy Act to authorize the state of California to take title to a decommissioned offshore oil and gas structure that has been converted into an artificial reef, under specified requirements.

Resource Library

  • Ambrose, R. F., & Anderson, T. W. (1990). Influence of an artificial reef on the surrounding infaunal community. Marine Biology, 107(1), 41–52. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf01313240

    Anthony, K. M., Love, M. S., & Lowe, C. G. (2012). Translocation, homing behavior and habitat use of groundfishes associated with oil platforms in the East Santa Barbara Channel, California. Bulletin, Southern California Academy of Sciences, 111(2), 101–118. https://doi.org/10.3160 /0038-3872-111.2.101

    Baine, M. (2001). Artificial reefs: A review of their design, application, management and performance. Ocean & Coastal Management, 44(3), 241–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0964-5691(01)00048-5

    Caselle, J. E., Love, M. S., Fusaro, C., Donna M. Schroeder, & Schroeder, D. M. (2002). Trash or habitat? Fish assemblages on offshore oilfield seafloor debris in the Santa Barbara Channel, California. Ices Journal of Marine Science, 59. https://doi.org/10.1006/jmsc.2002.1264

    Claisse, J. T., Love, M. S., Erin Meyer‐Gutbrod, Meyer-Gutbrod, E. L., Williams, C. M., & Pondella, D. J. (2019). Fishes with high reproductive output potential on California offshore oil and gas platforms. Bulletin of Marine Science, 95(4), 515–534. https://doi.org/10.5343/bms.2019.0016

    Claisse, J. T., Pondella, D. J., Love, M. S., Zahn, L. A., Chris F. Williams, Williams, C. M., & Bull, A. S. (2016). Potential Fish Production Impacts from Partial Removal of Decommissioned Oil and Gas Platforms off the Coast of California. 2016.

    Claisse, J. T., Pondella, D. J., Love, M. S., Zahn, L. A., Williams, C. M., & Bull, A. S. (2015). Impacts from Partial Removal of Decommissioned Oil and Gas Platforms on Fish Biomass and Production on the Remaining Platform Structure and Surrounding Shell Mounds. PLOS ONE, 10(9). https://doi.org /10.1371/journal.pone.0135812

    Claisse, J. T., Pondella, D. J., Love, M. S., Zahn, L. A., Williams, C. M., Jonathan P. Williams, Jonathan P. Williams, Jonathan P. Williams, Williams, J., & Bull, A. S. (2014). Oil platforms off California are among the most productive marine fish habitats globally. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 111(43), 15462–15467. https://doi.org/10.1073 /pnas.1411477111

    Cowen, R. K., & Sponaugle, S. (2009). Larval Dispersal and Marine Population Connectivity. Annual Review of Marine Science, 1(1), 443–466. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.marine.010908.163757

    Emery, B. M., Libe Washburn, Washburn, L., Love, M. S., Nishimoto, M. M., & Ohlmann, J. C. (2006). Do oil and gas platforms off California reduce recruitment of bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis) to natural habitat? An analysis based on trajectories derived from high-frequency radar.

    Gale, R. W., Gale, R. W., Tanner, M. J., Love, M. S., Love, M. S., Nishimoto, M. M., Donna M. Schroeder, Donna M. Schroeder, Schroeder, D. M., & Schroeder, D. M. (2012). Comparison of concentrations and profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites in bile of fishes from offshore oil platforms and natural reefs along the California coast. https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20121248

    Goddard, J. H. R., & Love, M. S. (2010). Megabenthic invertebrates on shell mounds associated with oil and gas platforms off California. Bulletin of Marine Science, 86(3), 533–554.

    Love, M. S. (2019). Fishes and invertebrates of oil and gas platforms off California: An introduction and summary. Bulletin of Marine Science, 95(4), 463–476. https://doi.org/10.5343/bms.2019.0043

    Love, M. S., & Caselle, J. E. (1999). What We Know About Fish Assemblages Around The Deepwater Production Platforms Of Southern And Central California. Environmental Geosciences, 6(3), 147–147. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1526-0984.1999.08047-5.x

    Love, M. S., Caselle, J. E., & Snook, L. (1999). Fish assemblages on mussel mounds surrounding seven oil platforms in the Santa Barbara channel and Santa Maria basin. Bulletin of Marine Science, 65(2), 497–513.

    Love, M. S., Caselle, J. E., & Snook, L. (2000). Fish assemblages around seven oil platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel area.

    Love, M. S., Claisse, J. T., & Roeper, A. (2019). An analysis of the fish assemblages around 23 oil and gas platforms off California with comparisons with natural habitats. Bulletin of Marine Science, 95(4), 477–514. https://doi.org/10.5343/bms.2018.0061

    Love, M. S., Donna M. Schroeder, Schroeder, D. M., Lenarz, W. H., Alec D. MacCall, MacCall, A., Bull, A. S., Lyman Thorsteinson, & Thorsteinson, L. K. (2006). Potential use of offshore marine structures in rebuilding an overfished rockfish species, bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis). Fishery Bulletin, 104(3), 383–390.

    Love, M. S., Li Kui, Kui, L., & Claisse, J. T. (2019). The role of jacket complexity in structuring fish assemblages in the midwaters of two California oil and gas platforms. Bulletin of Marine Science, 95(4), 597–616. https://doi.org/10.5343/bms.2017.1131

    Love, M. S., Love, M. S., Donna M. Schroeder, Schroeder, D. M., Schroeder, D. M., & Lenarz, W. H. (2007). Ecological Performance Of Young-Of-The-Year Blue Rockfish (Sebastes My Stinus) Associated W Ith Oil Platforms And Natural Reefs In California As Measured By Daily Grow Th Rates.

    Love, M. S., Love, M. S., Yoklavich, M. M., Donna M. Schroeder, & Schroeder, D. M. (2009). Demersal fish assemblages in the Southern California Bight based on visual surveys in deep water. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 84(1), 55–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-008-9389-8

    Love, M. S., Nishimoto, M. M., Snook, L., Donna M. Schroeder, Schroeder, D. M., & Bull, A. S. (2017). A Comparison of Fishes and Invertebrates Living in the Vicinity of Energized and Unenergized Submarine Power Cables and Natural Sea Floor off Southern California, USA. 2017, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1155 /2017/8727164

    Love, M. S., Nishimoto, M. M., Snook, L., Li Kui, & Kui, L. (2019). An analysis of the sessile, structure forming invertebrates living on California oil and gas platforms. Bulletin of Marine Science, 95(4), 583–596. https://doi.org/10.5343/bms.2017.1042

    Love, M. S., Nishimoto, M. M., Stanley J. Clark, Clark, S., Donna M. Schroeder, & Schroeder, D. M. (2012). Recruitment of Young-of-the-Year Fishes to Natural and Artificial Offshore Structure Within Central and Southern California Waters, 2008-2010. Bulletin of Marine Science, 88(4), 863–882. https://doi.org /10.5343/bms.2011.1101

    Love, M. S., Nishimoto, M. M., Stanley J. Clark, Clark, S., Kui, L., Azivy Aziz, Aziz, A., & Palandro, D. (2020). A comparison of two remotely operated vehicle (ROV) survey methods used to estimate fish assemblages and densities around a California oil platform. PLOS ONE, 15(11), 1–15. https://doi.org /10.1371/journal.pone.0242017

    Love, M. S., Nishimoto, M. M., Stanley J. Clark, Clark, S., McCrea, M., & Bull, A. S. (2017a). Assessing potential impacts of energized submarine power cables on crab harvests. Continental Shelf Research, 151, 23–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2017.10.002

    Love, M. S., Nishimoto, M. M., Stanley J. Clark, Clark, S., McCrea, M., & Bull, A. S. (2017b). The Organisms Living Around Energized Submarine Power Cables, Pipe, and Natural Sea Floor in the Inshore Waters of Southern California. Bulletin, Southern California Academy of Sciences, 116(2), 61–87. https://doi.org/10.3160/soca-116-02-61-87.1

    Love, M. S., Saiki, M. K., Thomas W. May, May, T. W., Julie L. Yee, & Yee, J. L. (2013). Whole-Body Concentrations of Elements in Three Fish Species from Offshore Oil Platforms and Natural Areas in the Southern California Bight, USA. Bulletin of Marine Science, 89(3), 717–734. https://doi.org/10.5343 /bms.2012.1078

    Love, M. S., Stanley J. Clark, Clark, S., McCrea, M., Seeto, K., Jainese, C., Nishimoto, M. M., Bull, A. S., & Kui, L. (2021). The Role of Oil and Gas Conductors as Fish Habitat at Two Southern California Offshore Platforms. Bulletin, Southern California Academy of Sciences, 119(3), 68–77. https://doi.org /10.3160/0038-3872-119.3.68

    Love, M. S., Westphal, W., & Collins, R. A. (1985). Distributional Patterns Of Fishes Captured Aboard Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessels Along The Northern Channel Islands, California.

    Love, M. S., Yoklavich, M. M., & Thorsteinson, L. K. (2002). The Rockfishes of the Northeast Pacific. Love, M. S., & York, A. (2005). A Comparison Of The Fish Assemblages Associated With An Oil/Gas Pipeline And Adjacent Seafloor In The Santa Barbara Channel, Southern California Bight.

    Lowe, C. G., Anthony, K. M., Jarvis, E. T., Lyall Bellquist, Lyall F. Bellquist, Lyall F. Bellquist, Bellquist, L., & Love, M. S. (2009). Site Fidelity and Movement Patterns of Groundfish Associated with Offshore Petroleum Platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel. Marine and Coastal Fisheries: Dynamics, Management, and Ecosystem Science, 1(1), 71–89. https://doi.org/10.1577/c08-047.1

    Meyer-Gutbrod, E. L., Li Kui, Kui, L., Nishimoto, M. M., Love, M. S., Donna M. Schroeder, Schroeder, D. M., & Miller, R. J. (2019). Fish densities associated with structural elements of oil and gas platforms in southern California. Bulletin of Marine Science, 95(4), 639–656. https://doi.org /10.5343/bms.2018.0078

    Meyer-Gutbrod, E. L., Love, M. S., Claisse, J. T., Page, H. M., Donna M. Schroeder, Schroeder, D. M., & Miller, R. J. (2019). Decommissioning impacts on biotic assemblages associated with shell mounds beneath southern California offshore oil and gas platforms. Bulletin of Marine Science, 95(4), 683–702. https://doi.org/10.5343/bms.2018.0077

    Meyer-Gutbrod, E. L., Love, M. S., Donna M. Schroeder, Schroeder, D. M., Claisse, J. T., Kui, L., & Miller, R. J. (2020). Bocaccio Young-of-the-Year Below One of California’s Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms. Bulletin of The Ecological Society of America, 101(4). https://doi.org/10.1002 /bes2.1748

    Meyer-Gutbrod, E. L., Love, M. S., Donna M. Schroeder, Schroeder, D. M., Schroeder, D. M., Claisse, J. T., Kui, L., & Miller, R. J. (2020). Forecasting the legacy of offshore oil and gas platforms on fish community structure and productivity. Ecological Applications, 30(8). https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2185

    Nishimoto, M. M., Simons, R. D., & Love, M. S. (2019). Offshore oil production platforms as potential sources of larvae to coastal shelf regions off southern California. Bulletin of Marine Science, 95(4), 535–558. https://doi.org/10.5343/bms.2019.0033

    Page, H. M., Jenifer E. Dugan, Dugan, J. E., Culver, C. S., & Hoesterey, J. C. (2006). Exotic invertebrate species on offshore oil platforms. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 325, 101–107. https://doi.org /10.3354/meps325101

    Page, H. M., Jenifer E. Dugan, Dugan, J. E., Donna M. Schroeder, Schroeder, D. M., Nishimoto, M. M., Love, M. S., & Hoesterey, J. C. (2007). Trophic links and condition of a temperate reef fish: Comparisons among offshore oil platform and natural reef habitats. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 344, 245–256. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps06929

    Pondella, D. J., Claisse, J. T., Love, M. S., Zahn, L. A., Jonathan P. Williams, Jonathan P. Williams, Jonathan P. Williams, Williams, J., Chris F. Williams, Williams, C. M., & Bull, A. S. (2016). Oil Platforms off California are among the Most Productive Marine Fish Habitats Globally. 2016.

    Pondella, D. J., Zahn, L. A., Love, M. S., Siegel, D. A., Siegel, D., & Bernstein, B. (2015). Modeling fish production for southern California’s petroleum platforms. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 11(4), 584–593. https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.1689

  • Bull, A. S., & Love, M. S. (2019). Worldwide oil and gas platform decommissioning: A review of practices and reefing options. Ocean & Coastal Management, 168(12), 274–306. https://doi.org/10.1016 /j.ocecoaman.2018.10.024

    Hamzah, B. A. (2003). International rules on decommissioning of offshore installations: Some observations. Marine Policy, 27(4), 339–348. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0308-597x(03)00040-x

    Osmundsen, P., Ragnar Tveterås, & Tveterås, R. (2003). Decommissioning of petroleum installations—Major policy issues. Energy Policy, 31(15), 1579–1588. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0301-4215(02)00224-0

    Salcido, R. E. (2005). Enduring Optimism: Examining the Rig-to-Reef Bargain. Ecology Law Quarterly, 32(4), 863–937. https://doi.org/10.15779/z38hz7q

    Soldal, A. V., Svellingen, I., Jørgensen, T., & Løkkeborg, S. (2002). Rigs-to-reefs in the North Sea: Hydroacoustic quantification of fish in the vicinity of a “‘semi-cold’” platform. Ices Journal of Marine Science, 59. https://doi.org/10.1006/jmsc.2002.1279

    Virgínia Parente, Parente, V., David Ferreira, Ferreira, D. F., Santos, E. M. dos, & Luczynski, E. (2006). Offshore decommissioning issues: Deductibility and transferability. Energy Policy, 34(15), 1992–2001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2005.02.008

    Wilhelmsson, D., Malm, T., & Öhman, M. C. (2006). The influence of offshore windpower on demersal fish. Ices Journal of Marine Science, 63(5), 775–784. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icesjms.2006.02.001

  • Dan Rothbach. (2007) Rigs-to-Reefs: Refocusing the Debate in California, 17 Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum 283-296

    Erin Meyer‐Gutbrod, Meyer-Gutbrod, E. L., Love, M. S., Donna M. Schroeder, Schroeder, D. M., & Miller, R. J. (2020). Forecasting the ecological legacy of aging offshore oil and gas platforms.

    Frumkes, D. R. (2002). The status of the California Rigs-to-Reefs Programme and the need to limit consumptive fishing activities. Ices Journal of Marine Science, 59. https://doi.org/10.1006 /jmsc.2002.1289

    Helvey, M. (2002). Are southern California oil and gas platforms essential fish habitat. Ices Journal of Marine Science, 59. https://doi.org/10.1006/jmsc.2002.1226

    Juliano Silva Lima, Lima, J. S., Juliano Silva Lima, Zalmon, I. R., & Love, M. S. (2019). Overview and trends of ecological and socioeconomic research on artificial reefs. Marine Environmental Research, 145, 81–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.01.010

    Kaiser, M. J., Mark J. Kaiser, & Pulsipher, A. G. (2005). Rigs-to-Reef Programs in the Gulf of Mexico. Ocean Development and International Law, 36(2), 119–134. https://doi.org/10.1080 /00908320590943990

    Macreadie, P. I., Fowler, A. M., & Booth, D. J. (2011). Rigs‐to‐reefs: Will the deep sea benefit from artificial habitat? Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 9(8), 455–461. https://doi.org/10.1890/100112

    Schroeder, D. M., & Love, M. S. (2004). Ecological and political issues surrounding decommissioning of offshore oil facilities in the Southern California Bight. Ocean & Coastal Management, 47(1), 21–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2004.03.002

Check out the storyboard map for a history of Rigs to Reefs, worldwide applications, and up-and coming areas of reefing interest!

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