Groups come together to protest removal of Gulf of Mexico oil rigs
In early June, a coalition of recreational-fishing organizations requested a moratorium on the government’s stated plan to quickly dismantle more than 650 oil rigs.
Membership includes the Coastal Conversation Association, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, American Sportfishing Association, National Marine Manufactures Association, Center for Coastal Conservation, The Billfish Foundation and the International Game Fish Association. “Our groups respectfully request a two-year moratorium on the Idle Iron guidance until a stakeholder process can be developed to both determine the best methods to properly dismantle platforms that are not serving as marine habitat and to protect those structures that are shown to harbor thriving marine ecosystems” the coalition wrote in a signed letter to Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
Coastal Conservation Association president Pat Murray wrote that an immediate cessation was critical.
“The bottom line is the irreparable damage is being done now,” Murray wrote. “Once those structures are removed, it is too late for the Department of the Interior to determine it made a horrible mistake.”
Log onto www.CCALouisiana.com to send a letter expressing your opposition to the rig removals to congressmen.