The live ornamental fish and invertebrate market today is often supplied from native reefs using harvest methods which damage the coral reefs. Ornamental fish and invertebrates are abundant on many offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.  Coral reefs are known to be an important source of food and economic value to host countries.​ Over 3,600 oil and gas platforms have been installed in the Gulf of Mexico, once composing the largest system of artificial reefs on Earth. An unexpected, long-term benefit of these structures is that they provide habitat for ornamental fish and invertebrates. The removal of retired platforms is required by federal law and today there are only 1,600 structures.  

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By safely maintaining these structures in place for alternate uses beyond oil and gas production, EcoRigs harvests ornamental fish and invertebrates for sale to the aquarium trade displacing methods that could harm natural reefs.  We do not compete with commercial or recreational fishermen who harvest fish for consumption. These organisms may also possess bioactive compounds useful to the pharmaceutical, chemical and food additive industries. 

 

Our goal is to grow from a small research operation to a major supplier of live marine species to the US and international markets

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