Over 6,000 oil rigs are currently in the oceans across the world, and it is very common for them to turn into vertical coral reefs. Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have studied oil rigs that have become reefs in order to inform California voters and policymakers about what to do with oil rigs that are no longer being used. These rigs are now home to multiple species of aquatic life, and the goal of the paper written by these researchers, called Ocean and Coastal Management, is to spread awareness of what is best for these new reefs.
The petroleum that comes from these platforms has a negative effect on the environment and these platforms also have risks of creating oil spills; however, they provide unique ecosystems. They provide a three dimensional habitat for animals to live in, and the open construction allows for currents to pass through that bring nutrients. I think that since these oil rigs have both negative and positive environmental impacts, it is important that researchers like the ones at UCSB are studying them so people can make informed decisions.
Is there anything currently under vote for what to do these oil rigs? How many are there? Do they pose any threats to human activities?
I could not find how many there are or if anything is currently under vote, but there are a lot since oil is a very popular fuel source. I think the risk of creating oil spills is the biggest threat, but researchers are continuing to study potential risks.
What will we do with these oil rigs, and who will decide?
The government of each country where the oil rigs are will decide what to do. The EU is choosing to preserve the areas where oil rigs are, but other countries may decide to keep them there.