Rigs or Reefs?
Oil and gas rigs off the coast of Australia are being decommissioned as they come to the end of their lifespan. But what should we be doing with these structures once we no longer need them? Ecologists are suggesting that there may be benefits in leaving offshore platforms where they are, claiming that the artificial ecosystems may provide habitats for marine life and improve local economies.
The Daily was joined by Associate Professor Peter Macreadie from Deakin University’s Centre for Integrative Ecology to talk about the potential benefits of leaving decommissioned oil and gas rigs in the ocean.