With increased global temperatures, the coral reefs around the world are started to die off and it is creating an interesting dilemma for ocean ecosystems. Ocean life is thriving in some unlikely places and this article shows how offshore oil rigs are starting to become homes for reefs and wildlife. The article highlights how ocean life is thriving at the Eureka oil rig off the coast of Long Beach, California. Scientists say this is one of the healthiest marine ecosystems in the world and people are hoping more rigs can be turned into reefs to promote healthy life. One of the reasons the Eureka oil rig is promoting healthy life is because of the cold water current that comes down from British Columbia and creates a perfect environment for wildlife to grow. Scientists also say that wildlife is growing better here than in estuaries.

More than 400 oil rigs have been converted to reefs since the year 1985. California has passed a law to encourage more rigs being turned into these reefs. More bills have been passed to encourage more reefs to be placed around the rigs. This is becoming a big issue because environmentalists don’t like to support oil companies after multiple huge spills that damaged the ocean life. It will be interesting to see how the reefs around oil rigs start popping up and to see if more are as successful as the Eureka rig.

References:

Olsen, Erik. “Marine Life Thrives in Unlikely Place: Offshore Oil Rigs.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 2016. Web. 20 Mar. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/08/science/marine-life-thrives-in-unlikely-place-offshore-oil-rigs.html?_r=0>.