TY - JOUR
T1 - Spawning aggregation of bigeye trevally, Caranx sexfasciatus, highlights the ecological importance of oil and gas platforms
AU - Madgett, Alethea S.
AU - Harvey, Euan S.
AU - Driessen, Damon
AU - Schramm, Karl D.
AU - Fullwood, Laura A.F.
AU - Songploy, Se
AU - Kettratad, Jes
AU - Sitaworawet, Paweena
AU - Chaiyakul, Sarin
AU - Elsdon, Travis S.
AU - Marnane, Michael J.
N1 - Open Access via the Elsevier Agreement
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the field and logistical support provided by the Crew of the Resolution. This research project was funded by Chevron through its Anchor Partnership with the UK National Decommissioning Centre. We also acknowledge in-kind support from Net Zero Technology Centre and the University of Aberdeen through their partnership in the UK National Decommissioning Centre.
PY - 2022/10/5
Y1 - 2022/10/5
N2 - There is growing interest in understanding the ecological benefits of oil and gas structures. This is the first reported case of the spawning aggregation and mating behaviour of bigeye trevally, Caranx sexfasciatus, associated with an oil and gas platform; demonstrating that oil and gas jackets are capable of not only attracting large aggregations of fish, but can provide suitable conditions for reproductive purposes. Fish spawning aggregations (FSAs) are highly vulnerable events that are vitally important for the persistence of many fish species. Urgent protection and conservation of FSA sites is required to secure them from the threat of overfishing. The findings of this study bring into question the management strategies required for oil and gas structures, particularly related to removal during decommissioning, or where structures are left in place and safety exclusion zones no longer apply. These aggregations and behaviours were captured using underwater stereo-video Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) methods, allowing for detailed observations.
AB - There is growing interest in understanding the ecological benefits of oil and gas structures. This is the first reported case of the spawning aggregation and mating behaviour of bigeye trevally, Caranx sexfasciatus, associated with an oil and gas platform; demonstrating that oil and gas jackets are capable of not only attracting large aggregations of fish, but can provide suitable conditions for reproductive purposes. Fish spawning aggregations (FSAs) are highly vulnerable events that are vitally important for the persistence of many fish species. Urgent protection and conservation of FSA sites is required to secure them from the threat of overfishing. The findings of this study bring into question the management strategies required for oil and gas structures, particularly related to removal during decommissioning, or where structures are left in place and safety exclusion zones no longer apply. These aggregations and behaviours were captured using underwater stereo-video Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) methods, allowing for detailed observations.
KW - Decommissioning
KW - Bigeye trevally
KW - Fish spawning aggregations
KW - Gulf of Thailand (GoT)
KW - Marine conservation
KW - Oil and gas platform jackets
KW - Offshore platform ecology
KW - Environmental management
KW - Stereo-video
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85136465836&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ecss.2022.108024
DO - 10.1016/j.ecss.2022.108024
M3 - Article
VL - 276
JO - Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
JF - Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
SN - 0272-7714
M1 - 108024
ER -
