MMSReefish Study Databases from 1993-1999 field collections (SEC7-95-11 Fish Mortalities From Explosive Removal of Petroleum Platforms)
Project (PRJ) | Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:4489 | Updated: August 9, 2022 | Published / External
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Summary
Impacts of the Explosive Removal of Offshore Oil and Gas Structures
on Fish Stocks in the Gulf of Mexico
Offshore oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) function as artificial reefs attracting a wide variety of marine life. Explosives are frequently used to remove these structures. These data describe the first comprehensive study to quantitatively assess impacts of the explosive removal of offshore oil and gas structures on fish. Between August 1993 and May 1999 surface and underwater sampling was conducted at nine explosive oil and gas platform removals in the GOM to estimate fish mortality. Water depth ranged from 14-36 m. After explosives were detonated, field personnel operating from inflatable boats used dip nets to collect all dead fish that floated to the surface while divers manually sampled dead fish that sank to the sea floor. The most severely impacted fish species at explosive structure removals in order of abundance were Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber), blue runner (Caranx crysos), red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), and sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus). These four species accounted for 86% of estimated mortality. Numbers of all other impacted species were far below those of the top four. Mortality estimates for red snapper were incorporated into stock assessment analyses. The impact of including explosive platform removal data was that abundance estimates were almost indistinguishable from the original assessment. The differences were well within the statistical estimation variances for the original assessment.
Project Information
Project Type
Project
Contact Information
Data Steward
Gregg Gitschlag
Gregg.Gitschlag@noaa.gov
409-766-3517
Item Identification
Title: | MMSReefish Study Databases from 1993-1999 field collections (SEC7-95-11 Fish Mortalities From Explosive Removal of Petroleum Platforms) |
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Short Name: | MMSReefish Study (SEC7-95-11 Fish Mortalities From Explosive Removal of Petroleum Platforms) |
Status: | Completed |
Abstract: |
Impacts of the Explosive Removal of Offshore Oil and Gas Structures on Fish Stocks in the Gulf of Mexico Offshore oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) function as artificial reefs attracting a wide variety of marine life. Explosives are frequently used to remove these structures. These data describe the first comprehensive study to quantitatively assess impacts of the explosive removal of offshore oil and gas structures on fish. Between August 1993 and May 1999 surface and underwater sampling was conducted at nine explosive oil and gas platform removals in the GOM to estimate fish mortality. Water depth ranged from 14-36 m. After explosives were detonated, field personnel operating from inflatable boats used dip nets to collect all dead fish that floated to the surface while divers manually sampled dead fish that sank to the sea floor. The most severely impacted fish species at explosive structure removals in order of abundance were Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber), blue runner (Caranx crysos), red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), and sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus). These four species accounted for 86% of estimated mortality. Numbers of all other impacted species were far below those of the top four. Mortality estimates for red snapper were incorporated into stock assessment analyses. The impact of including explosive platform removal data was that abundance estimates were almost indistinguishable from the original assessment. The differences were well within the statistical estimation variances for the original assessment. |
Purpose: |
Quantify the impacts of explosives used in the removal of offshore petroleum production platforms on fishes residing near these artificial reefs. Provide information for FMPs and offshore technology groups. |
Keywords
Theme Keywords
Thesaurus | Keyword |
---|---|
UNCONTROLLED | |
None | artificial reefs |
None | explosions |
None | marine mammals |
None | mortality |
None | petroleum platforms |
None | protective species |
None | turtles |
Spatial Keywords
Thesaurus | Keyword |
---|---|
UNCONTROLLED | |
None | Gulf Of Mexico |
Physical Location
Organization: | National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland |
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City: | Silver Spring |
State/Province: | MD |
Location Description: |
NCEI Archive |
Project Information
Project Type: | Project |
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Support Roles
Data Steward
Date Effective From: | 1987-01-01 |
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Date Effective To: | |
Contact (Person): | Gitschlag, Gregg |
Address: |
4700 Avenue U Galveston, TX 77551 |
Email Address: | Gregg.Gitschlag@noaa.gov |
Phone: | 409-766-3517 |
Child Items
Rubric scores updated every 15m
Type | Title | |
---|---|---|
Data Set | MMSReefish Study Databases from 1993-1999 field collections (SEC7-95-11 Fish Mortalities From Explosive Removal of Petroleum Platforms) |
Catalog Details
Catalog Item ID: | 4489 |
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GUID: | gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:4489 |
Metadata Record Created By: | Lee M Weinberger |
Metadata Record Created: | 2007-07-10 08:44+0000 |
Metadata Record Last Modified By: | SysAdmin InPortAdmin |
Metadata Record Last Modified: | 2022-08-09 17:10+0000 |
Metadata Record Published: | 2021-05-07 |
Owner Org: | SEFSC |
Metadata Publication Status: | Published Externally |
Do Not Publish?: | N |
Metadata Last Review Date: | 2021-05-07 |
Metadata Review Frequency: | 1 Year |
Metadata Next Review Date: | 2022-05-07 |