FishLAT

Blue Latitudes, LLC

FishLAT

FishLAT leverages AI-driven insights to preserve critical reef habitats on oil platforms, while supporting marine renewable energy development.

California, USA

USA

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

There are over 12,000 offshore oil and gas (O&G) platforms worldwide. Overtime, many of these structures develop thriving reefs, in fact, California’s offshore O&G platforms are among the most productive ecosystems on the planet. As fossil fuel reliance declines, decommissioning, or completely removing these O&G platforms is imminent. In California many operators will soon begin platform decommissioning, a process that will eliminate up to 10 acres of marine habitat and release up to 52,000 metric tons of carbon emissions per platform. Full O&G platform removal is not the only option. Globally, over 600 platforms have been repurposed as reefs, preserving the marine ecosystems on them while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40-50%. But determining if a platform is a good candidate to reef is challenging, and therefore the industry defaults to complete removal. O&G platform decommissioning is an old problem that needs a new solution. As offshore platforms approach the end of their operational lives, traditional decommissioning methods often overlook the ecological and economic value of these structures. Without tools to analyze fisheries and ecological data, critical habitats are lost, carbon emissions are increased, and fisheries suffer, all with far reaching consequences.

We’ve developed a rapid assessment tool to identify viable reefing candidates. We call it FishLAT (Fisheries Location Assessment Technology) - developed under a National Science Foundation grant (NSF) with input from leading academic institutions, United States regulators, fisheries groups, and the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers. FishLAT is powered by a suite of patent-pending machine learning models which give us insights into the ecological and fisheries related impacts of offshore energy decommissioning and development. These models are informed by data provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Global Fishing Watch, the Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program, and others. FishLAT is currently an internal tool, with insights available upon request. FishLAT has been used to assess over 900 potential reef sites in the Gulf of Mexico, supporting stakeholders in obtaining permits for reef sites. As offshore industries and regulators seek more sustainable decommissioning and energy development strategies, FishLAT offers a new approach, enhancing data-driven decision-making, reducing carbon emissions, and preserving marine ecosystems.

The stakeholders are California’s coastal communities, fishers, regulatory agencies and the offshore energy industry. These groups are directly impacted by the decommissioning of offshore O&G platforms. Coastal communities, particularly in California, have long distrusted offshore O&G operations due to high-profile oil spills. Although scientific studies show that platforms can provide ecological value as artificial reefs, this data is often inaccessible or poorly communicated. FishLAT addresses this gap by turning complex data into interactive maps, empowering the public with clear insights into how platforms function as reefs. Fishers are often excluded from formal decision-making despite their local ecological knowledge. FishLAT provides a platform for them to contribute real-time catch data and participate in model refinement, improving the accuracy of habitat and fish stock assessments. Through data-sharing, end-user interviews, and policy discussions, our project ensures their perspectives shape decisions. California’s upcoming decommissioning projects will be among the largest and most complex, requiring careful planning, robust data, and public input. FishLAT supports regulators by offering a rapid assessment of the predicted ecological and fisheries related impacts of decommissioning. By providing regulators with the most relevant and accurate data, our solution fosters more equitable, informed, and sustainable offshore decisions.