title: Monitoring strategies for drill cutting discharge in the vicinity of cold-water coral ecosystems.
abstract: Cold-water coral reefs represent some of the most biodiverse and biomass rich ecosystems in the marine environment. Despite this, ecosystem functioning is still poorly understood and the susceptibility of key species to anthropogenic activities and pollutants is unknown. In European waters, cold-water corals are often found in greatest abundance on the continental margin, often in regions rich in hydrocarbon reserves. In this viewpoint paper we discuss some of the current strategies employed in predicting and minimizing exposure of cold-water coral reef ecosystems on the Norwegian margin to waste materials produced during offshore drilling operations by the oil and gas industry. In the light of recent in situ and experimental research conducted with the key reef species Lophelia pertusa, we present some possible improvements to these strategies which may be utilized by industry and managers to further reduce the likelihood of exposure. We further highlight important outstanding research questions in this field.
authors.affiliation: Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany. a.purser@jacobs-university.de
authors.forename: Autun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Purser
authors.forename: Laurenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thomsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants