Media Advisory: Interact Live with Divers Exploring the Wonders of Marine Life Beneath Offshore Oil Platforms 9/30/2003
From: Mike Garcia of Porter Novelli Sacramento, 916-325-2931, MGarcia@ncgpn.com News Advisory: -- Interact Live with Divers Exploring the Wonders of Marine Life Beneath Offshore Oil Platforms! Join us for a unique opportunity to view the teeming marine habitat below Platform Edith-Live! WHAT: "Under the Platforms-Live" is an interactive dive production that will allow DEMA (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association) Show 2003 participants and reporters nationwide to see live, via satellite and internet link, divers exploring the teeming marine life below Platform Edith, an oil platform off the coast of Southern California. They will also be able to experience show hosts/reporters linking in via satellite asking questions directly to the divers exploring the reef. The show will provide a divers-eye-view of the hundreds of millions of sea creatures that inhabit California's offshore platform reefs. WHY: Recent research shows these platform reefs to be valuable habitat, especially for several "threatened" species of rockfish. There is a growing movement to preserve the platform reefs through a "rigs-to-reefs" program. "Rigs-to-reefs" would allow, on a case-by-case basis, the underwater structure of decommissioned offshore platforms to remain as reefs. WHERE: National Press Club, First Amendment Lounge, 529 14th St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20045 WHEN: Wednesday, October 8; Live satellite broadcast will be held at noon EST Program will also be available online at http://www.preservereefs.org at noon and 2 p.m. EST. WHO: Dr. Milton Love, Professor of Marine Biology, UC Santa Barbara Marine Science Institute -- A Team of PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) Divers Approximately 60 Feet Below the Surface The Coalition for Enhanced Marine Resources (CEMR), sponsor of the event, is a non-profit organization formed to encourage the development, use and enjoyment of artificial platform reefs in California. PARTICIPANTS Life Under the Platforms -- Live Event Participants Co-Hosts, Washington D.C. -- Tom Fry, president, National Ocean Industries Association -- Don Kent, president, Hubbs-Sea World Marine Research Institute Show Participants -- Milton Love, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara Marine Science Institute -- Bob Wohlers, vice president, Diving Science and Technology (DSAT) Available for questions -- Tom Raftican, president, United Anglers -- George Steinbach, executive director, California Artificial Reef Enhancement Program Presented by: http://www.preservereefs.org http://www.noia.org FACTS: "Life Under the Platforms -- Live" Facts "Life Under the Platforms" provides a divers-eye-view of the hundreds of millions of sea creatures that inhabit California's 27 offshore platform reefs and presents the facts about the habitat value of these thriving reefs. -- Offshore platforms in California support nearly 400,000 square meters of habitat for invertebrates and fish. That's equivalent to more than 75 football fields of thriving marine habitat. -- Hundreds of millions of sea creatures inhabit California's existing offshore platform reefs. A "Rigs-to-Reefs" program will preserve thriving platform ecosystems and the many species of fish and invertebrates that call them home. -- Depending on location, each platform has its own unique habitat and community of marine life. "Threatened" species of rockfish such as the boccacio and cowcod are found on higher numbers on some platform reefs than on natural reefs. -- The platforms vertical structure and durability provides excellent shelter for vulnerable juvenile fish. -- Rigs-to-reefs programs are extremely successful in the Gulf Coast where hundreds of platforms have be decommissioned and used as artificial reefs. -- Under a rigs-to-reefs program, only portion of the underwater structure of the platform would remain -- oil and gas production equipment and facilities would be completely removed. -- A rigs-to-reefs program will preserve thriving platform ecosystems and the many species of fish and invertebrates that call them home. Resources Recently completed study by Dr. Milton Love on the Ecological Role of Platforms: http://www.id.ucsb.edu/lovelab/Report.html Coalition for Enhanced Marine Resources: http://www.preservereefs.org Louisiana Artificial Reef Program: http://www.id.ucsb.edu/lovelab/Report.html Texas Artificial Reef Program: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/reef/artreef.htm California Artificial Reef Enhancement Program: http://www.calreefs.org |