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Mineral Resources Management Division - Rigs to Reefs Workshop

Dan Frumkes

Mr. Frumkes is a zoologist trained in research design and data analysis. He has been a volunteer in the effort to improve marine resource management since 1982. He has been funded for several years by the American Sport fishing Association and the Fish America Foundation. As director of the Conservation Network, he is charged with helping to develop solutions to marine resource issues which maximize benefits to the resources, are acceptable to regulatory agencies and to extent practical, can be supported by affected industries. He also functions as an interface between the public, policymakers, and the academic community.

~Submitted by Mr. Frumkes ~

BIOLOGISTS CAN NOT SOLVE SOCIO-ECONOM1C ISSUES, POLICYMAKERS AVOID CONTROVERSY AND VALUABLE HABITAT AND MARINE LIFE ARE UNNECESSARLY DESTROYED

Substantial evidence suggests that some, if not most, of the California rigs increase regional biological production. The resource benefits may not be sufficient to prevent the rigs from being removed. Additional incentives including enhancement of recreational opportunity and the funding of other programs are likely to be necessary. Although an influential minority view the creation of artificial reefs as nothing more than a poor method of solid waste disposal, there has been little opposition to California's artificial reef program. Some of the opposition to rigs to reefs is vehement because benefits accrue to the offshore petroleum industry. Commercial fishers desire maximum compensation for lost opportunity, which may be more valuable than the actual opportunity lost. Liability concerns need not be a serious hindrance to the program. The petroleum industry will require incentives in addition to the goodwill derived from providing enhanced resources and recreational opportunity. All of these positions are founded on social and economic issues, and they are not likely to be altered substantially by additional biological research. Fortunately, the research is important to a broad range of fisheries issues. Fundamentally, we must determine the appropriate criteria to consider when permitting alterations to natural marine habitat, and the conditions for which these same protections are appropriate for artificial marine habitat.