OIL and gas platforms could offer a lifeline to the Scottish fishing industry by providing an ideal home for populations of species such as cod and haddock.
Scientists in Aberdeen have noted the creatures gathering in large numbers around existing installations and reckon there is potential for offshore platforms and renewable energy devices to double up as artificial reefs.
Toyonobu Fujii revealed his findings on the second day of the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity in the city yesterday.
The researcher from Aberdeen University’s Oceanlab said: “There are currently no less than 500 offshore installations extracting oil and gas primarily from the Continental Shelf in the North Sea and, since the first installation, more and more researchers have been aware that a variety of commercially important fish species such as cod, haddock and saithe gather in substantial numbers around these artificial structures.
“We still don’t know exactly why. It could be because there are more feeding opportunities or possibly because they provide places for them to shelter or hide.
“But if they are using these habitats as nursery or spawning grounds, then the implications of the physical presence of these structures could be important.”
Mr Fujii said more research was needed.
He also wants to explore whether other species such as flatfish or pelagic fish, such as mackerel, are also attracted to the sites.
conference
The conference – the biggest event of its kind in the world – has been organised by Aberdeen and St Andrews universities and is on until Friday.
More than 900 delegates from 74 countries have converged on the city to explore the impact of human activity on the seas and suggest ways to minimise the harm on other species.
Participants over the five days will include scientists, schoolchildren and people working in industries such as fishing, oil and gas and renewables, who depend on the sea for their living.