Retirement risks: Invasive coral on old oil platform on the Brazilian equatorial continental shelf

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2021-04, Vol.165, p.112156-112156, Article 112156
• Main Authors: Braga, Marcus Davis Andrade, Paiva, Sandra Vieira, Gurjão, Lívio Moreira de, Teixeira, Carlos Eduardo Peres, Gurgel, Anne Larisse Alves Rebouças, Pereira, Pedro Henrique Cipresso, Soares, Marcelo de Oliveira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anthozoa; Biofouling; Bioinvasion; Brazil; Continental shelves; Coral Reefs; COVID-19; Decommissioning; Decommissioning of oil platforms; Dispersal; Ecosystem; Ecosystems; Environmental studies; Humans; Introduced species; Invasive species; Marine invertebrates; Native organisms; Oil; Oil and gas industry; Pandemics; Range extension; Restoration; Retirement; Risk analysis; SARS-CoV-2; Shallow water; Tubastraea tagusensis; Work platforms
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112156

The objective of this study was to report, for the first time, the presence of an invasive coral (Tubastraea tagusensis) in an oil platform on the Brazilian equatorial continental shelf. This structure is located more than 1200 km north from other oil and gas structures colonized by this coral. We also discussed the retirement and decommissioning of old biofouling-encrusted oil and gas platforms (~62 platforms) from decreased production and the current oil crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This presents an ecological concern due invasive coral range expansion and potential impacts to poorly studied ecosystems such as marginal shallow-water coral reefs and mesophotic ecosystems. It is imperative that mindful risk analysis and rigorous environmental studies must precede the installation of new oil and gas platforms. In addition, decommissioning of retired structures should take into consideration marine restoration and non-indigenous species dispersal, and more specifically, Tubastraea bioinvasion. •The presence of invasive coral in oil platform on the Brazilian equatorial coast was detected for the first time.•Colonized northernmost structures are located more than 1200 km away from other oil and gas structures.•Risk analysis must precede decommissioning of retired oil and gas platforms.•Rigorous environmental studies must precede new oil and gas platform installation due to high ecological risk.