Rigs into Reefs?

I won’t go too much into this subject, as I can go on and on, and there are different views on this matter.  There are rigs all over the world’s oceans that are abandoned, or “decommissioned” and only until recently they are there to stay. In the past, once an oil rig becomes decommissioned, it would have to be removed, and natural habitat is to be restored. This process as you can imagine can be very expensive. Recently, scientists have found out that these “abandoned” oil rigs are actually a positive outlook on the marine life below. Fish have taken shelter under these rigs, and overtime has become their homes. Even though the homes are artificial and not part of their “natural” habitat, if the rigs are removed, the fish must find other homes.

I’m not agreeing that they should stay as other matters are involved such as pollution and oil leaks.

“Petroleum platforms are artificial habitats. Whether placed as an artificial reef or a working (producing petroleum) structure, they have been found to increase the algae and invertebrates that at-tract and significantly increase the numbers and species of fish….The program benefits petroleum platform owners by eliminating the high cost of transporting the structure for disposal. States benefit as the platform develops into an area that enhances commercial and recreational fishing, tourism, and the biological community…”

http://sites.google.com/site/petroleumhistoryresources/Home/rigs-to-reefs