Fish assemblages associated with oil industry structures on the continental shelf of north-western Australia

N Pradella; A M Fowler; D J Booth; P I Macreadie

doi:10.1111/jfb.12274

Fish assemblages associated with oil industry structures on the continental shelf of north-western Australia

J Fish Biol. 2014 Jan;84(1):247-55. doi: 10.1111/jfb.12274. Epub 2013 Dec 17.

Authors

N Pradella¹, A M Fowler, D J Booth, P I Macreadie

Affiliation

¹ Centre for Environmental Sustainability, School of the Environment, University of Technology, Sydney, P. O. Box 123, 2007 Broadway, Australia.

PMID: 24344929
DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12274

Abstract

This study provides the first assessment of fish associations with oil and gas structures located in deep water (85-175 m) on Australia's north-west continental shelf, using rare oil industry video footage obtained from remotely operated vehicles. A diverse range of taxa were observed associating with the structures, including reef-dependent species and transient pelagic species. Ten commercially fished species were observed, the most abundant of which was Lutjanus argentimaculatus, with an estimated biomass for the two deepest structures (Goodwyn and Echo) of 109 kg.

Keywords: Lutjanus argentimaculatus; artificial reef; decommissioning; rigs-to-reefs; video analysis.

MeSH terms

Animals
Australia
Biomass
Biota*
Extraction and Processing Industry* / instrumentation
Fishes* / classification
Population Dynamics
Video Recording