Similar programs have been successfully implemented in the Gulf of Mexico and states such as Texas and Louisiana have converted hundreds of offshore oil platforms into artificial reefs. Over the next week, our team would have the opportunity to swim with about 10 unique humpback whale individuals and the butterflies never left my stomach. We elevate the traditional concept of ocean ⦠Their DISCOVERY Yacht Program presents opportunities for scientists and educators to eliminate vessel costs and promote community engagement. They respect them, but also have a history of hunting them for food. Whether you are in the middle of the country, have never seen the ocean, or are simply curious about what lies beneath the oceanâs surface, our goal will be to help make the ocean and its ecosystems accessible to a wide range of individuals. This number does not account for the passing school of herring that happens to pass through that zone, in which case the fish kill figure may be much higher. In the future, our transects will take place at different depths in the ocean, depending on how deep a natural or artificial reef is. From the view of the ROV camera⦠the BLF team at their first pool dive! SeaKeepers is a non-profit organization that supports marine science and conservation by utilizing privately owned yachts as platforms for research and education. Blue Latitudes understands the often-complex environmental issues that face the offshore energy industry and has developed relationships with both federal and state regulatory agencies that are ⦠While tracking ocean currents, this instrument also collects temperature and water pressure data. As I got closer to Tao, I could feel my excitement growing. As Ambassadors, we will be loaned a DTG3 ROV for a period of three months, during which we will be documenting our progress and sharing our experiences with Deep Trekker. Then the jacket is removed either in small pieces or as a single lift, (a single lift is possible only for small structures in less than 200 ft of water).From a fisheries perspective, any option in which the structure or its fragments are left on the bottom, has the potential to cause physical interference with fishing activities, such as entanglement. Our team is excited to connect community members, from students to SCUBA divers, with ROV technology and eventually guide groups in DTG3 navigation. In preparation for launching a remotely operated vehicle (ROV)-based community science assessment, the Blue Latitudes Foundation (BLF) has spent the past few months pilot testing and learning how to operate Deep Trekkerâs DTG3 ROV . Open Water Deployment #2 - La Jolla Shores. Emily Callahan and Amber Jackson, co-founders of Blue Latitudes, are marine scientists on a mission to re-purpose offshore oil and gas platforms as artificial reefs around the world. Because this area of coastline is protected, it is teeming with life! The Blue Latitudes Foundation seeks to elevate the traditional concept of ocean stewardship by uniting government, industry and the community to work together to conserve our ⦠For example, detonating a 2.5-ton (TNT equivalent) charge, would typically result in a mass of killed fish weighing about 20 tons. It was the first morning of our expedition to the Kingdom of Tonga and we were searching for the main attraction. Achieving neutral buoyancy was the first objective when placing the DTG3 into water. As we drove to the next location, the captain made a quick stop at Platform Emmy. The Eco is an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) that measures the movement of water using sound. The useful lives of many offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and off of California are approaching their end, which means more and more oil companies are being confronted by a perplexing question... how does one remove a platform the size of an Empire State Building from the open ocean? These platforms might also be used as bases for search and rescue operations or centers for waste processing and disposal. [1] The difference between the estimated cost of removing the offshore oil platform from the ocean and from partial decommissioning. We will also be examining opportunities to take students on âvirtual divesâ by live-streaming these surveys from the perspective of the ROV. The first phase of DTG3 pilot tests took place in the controlled environment of our neighborhood pool, where calm water conditions and visibility allowed us to keep a close eye on the ROV. Given the presence of several unique habitats near shore, including sandy bottom, eelgrass beds, and shallow water rocky reef, we opted to launch from kayaks. There was none of Californiaâs giant kelp or famous orange Garibaldis â this was a whole new world. Since a state run RtR program never materialized, the cost to enter the RtR market for oil companies has become expensive and burdensome to participate in. There are several steps involved in the process which could take upwards of 2-3 years to complete, and create removal costs of about $4-$10 million for a shallow water platform (this does not reflect the cost of removing deep water platforms where the cost exponentially increases). While collecting data, the Eco rests on seafloor and profiles the currents above it. Complete with a 50-meter tether and weighing just under 19 lbs., this portable, commercial-grade ROV is an incredible tool for underwater exploration. Find out about our organization,mission, our methods, and the results of our advocacy. The Blue Latitudes Foundation team is comprised of Claire Gonzales (pictured left), Emily Hazelwood (middle), and Amber Sparks (right). Setting up the DTG3 ROV for a dive in Mission Bay, San Diego. Inspired by ⦠Understanding currents is important in marine ecosystems because they redistribute heat, nutrients, and oxygen within the ocean. The offshore structures can undoubtedly attract many species of migrating invertebrates and fish searching for food, shelter, and places to reproduce. Tongans need the whales, but also understand that they do not own them and cannot rely on them. The BLF has designed a series of ecological surveys to gather marine life data on a variety of California reef habitats, including artificial reefs. This relationship is nuanced. Interestingly, in a sort of 'catch-22' there are also noted benefits to the fisheries communities that come from converting the fixed marine structures into artificial reefs. Complete removal is the status quo, but should California mandate that these structures are completely removed? To combat this current, the speed and steering settings were adjusted to give the driver better control. The ghosts of man's conquest for energy forgotten yet still apparent on the horizon. We look forward to documenting and sharing our progress with you along the way. The Blue Latitudes Foundation Jan 2019 - Present 2 years 2 months The Blue Latitudes Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. âGo now!â Ule yelled. After a few rounds of trial and error, our team successfully balanced the DTG3. It is equipped with a camera, powerful lights, lasers to measure the size of marine organisms, and a grabber arm. My breathing quickened and I searched the deep shadows frantically. To make RtR a viable and attractive option for oil companies, the State of California needs to amend AB 2503 to allow a state agency to take on the liability of the structure once ownership has been transferred to the state. This timeline is 5 years after the well was last pumped.So how is an offshore platform decommissioned? Duly warned, I sampled a seasickness pill on ⦠So dive in with us, Explorers! The options of reusing abandoned platforms, their foundations, and other structures that are out of service have been actively discussed for the last 10 years, and the options for decommissioning vary widely. Before launching the DTG3 in the Pacific, we will be taking the ROV on its first test dive in a local pool, where we will be learning to master how to pilot the ROV around a series of obstacles. The next stop for our pilot tests was Mission Bay, located in San Diego, California. When I did, I was consumed with awe and humility. "An Australian foundation had built a museum-quality replica of Cook's first vessel and dispatched it around the globe in the navigator`s path." Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before 496 by Tony Horwitz | Editorial Reviews Paperback (First Edition) $ 22.00 Paperback $22.00 NOOK Book $12.99 View All ⦠People swimming with whales was something that I had seen before, featured in nature documentaries or behind the filter of my Instagram feed, but I never thought I would be able to do it myself. Assessing the health and productivity of artificial reef habitats is a valuable tool in understanding their role within marine ecosystems. Where did AB 2503 go wrong? A handy âcamera lockâ function allows the driver to lock the camera angle during use, keeping the bottom in view. We will continue to pilot test the Nortek Eco and canât wait for our next expedition in the ocean. ROVs are unmanned, underwater robots that are connected to the surface by a power cable. Blue Latitudes Blue Marine Foundation Blue Ocean Business Summit Blue Ocean Film Festival Blue Ocean Institute Blue Ocean Planet Blue Solutions Blue Ventures Break Free From ⦠BLFâs community science program will incorporate volunteer scientists and ROVs to assess the health and productivity of California reef habitat. Blue Latitudes Hana Lewkow Co-Founder Treehouse Tots Preschool Freda Madison CFO/COO Madison Enterprises Clifford McClain CEO Construction Concepts and Designs Michelle Quezada ⦠Some other suggestions consider transformation of abandoned platforms into places for power generation using wind/wave and thermal. As we move along the learning curve, we continue to fine-tune our protocols and carefully design surveys for our future community science work. Subsequently, in 2010, then-Speaker of the Assembly, John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 2503. From identifying plants on a hike, to forming hypotheses about ideal surf conditions, science continues to be woven into our daily lives. However, efforts to pass these new amendments have all failed. I let my hair down out of its messy bun and scooted toward the back of the boat, my fins and mask in my hands. While liability for the wells remain with the oil companies in perpetuity, so should there ever be a leak, they will be responsible, the continued maintenance of the platform jacket liability is considered a major risk to oil company stakeholders. In 2010, to combat this 'idle iron', the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management set decommissioning timelines to specify the maximum number of years that the wells and structure are allowed to remain idle before they are required to be removed. Ever wondered what those massive structures off the coast of California are, and how much longer they are going to be there? February 25 â âFakaâapaâapaâ with Blue Latitudes Vavaâu is the island group comprising one large island and 40 smaller ones in the Kingdom of Tonga. However, California has not established any precedence for this type of artificial reef conversion, and since the passage of AB 2503 in 2010, there have still been no offshore oil platforms converted into artificial reefs in California waters. These explosives have a very powerful, short-term impact on the marine environment and biota, which should not be neglected. In the upcoming months, we will be conducting multiple test dives and fine-tuning data collection protocols. The ROV is connected to a game-style controller via a 50-meter tether. Blue Marine Foundation Leica Camera AG Polar Latitudes Photography Competition 2021 Results 2020 Results Now reading: Explorers' Choice Award: Cast Your Vote Share Prev Next ⦠We visited four artificial reef sites, each consisting of 1,000 tons of quarry rock. If they waited after 2017, then the payments would jump to 65 percent of cost savings and 85 percent of cost savings after 2023, respectively. After reeling in the ROV, we paddled back to retrieve the Eco before heading to shore. Blue latitudes and levels of your eyes,â In this expectant, still exclaim receive The secret oar and petals of all love. Our team at the BLF recently became a part of Deep Trekkerâs Ambassador Program and are thrilled to be working with them! Since the passing of AB 2503, there have been several attempts to modify the CMRLA to address its shortcomings, including efforts lead by State Senator Bob Hertzberg in 2015 (SB 233) and 2017 (SB 588). I watched him intently, eyes fixed on the lime green tip of his snorkel. In order to prepare a platform for decommissioning, tanks, processing equipment and piping must be flushed, residual hydrocarbons disposed of and any remaining platform equipment, removed. Blue Latitudes Foundation We conserve our oceans through outreach, education and research. This opportunity will allow us to become acquainted with a new model before purchasing one of our own. Two important controls were also put to the test in Mission Bay: âauto-headingâ and âauto-depthâ. As the DTG3 cruised around the pool, we engaged the internal LED floodlights and experimented with capturing underwater photos and videos. Open Water Deployment #1 - Huntington Beach. Here in California, the Blue Latitudes Foundation (BLF) is gearing up to launch its own community-based science initiative with the unveiling of our volunteer marine survey program, which will eventually enable members of the public to go out and collect information on the marine communities found on Californiaâs artificial reefs using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Studies conducted there might include regulating local marine populations and coral reproduction, monitoring sea level, and collecting oceanographic and meteorological information from within the framework. rocks, concrete, sunken boats) have been placed offshore throughout coastal California to provide additional habitat for invertebrate and fish species. Emily and Amber launching the Deep Trekker DTG3 ROV. The Blue Latitudes Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Latitude is a measurement of location ⦠In addition, the CMRLA includes a progressive payment scale that proves to be economically unfriendly for interested oil company stakeholders. After several months of preparation in protected waters, the Blue Latitudes Foundation (BLF) team recently completed two open ocean deployments with the Deep Trekker DTG3 Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)! How expensive will it be? Calm seas set the stage and after loading up our snorkel gear and scientific instruments, we paddled west off La Jolla shores into about 30 feet of water over a sandy bottom habitat. More adventures are on the horizon. The DTG3 model includes small weights that can be added or subtracted to adjust the overall weight. After several months of preparation in protected waters, the Blue Latitudes Foundation ⦠This setting presented new challenges for the DTG3, including saltwater, tides, and currents. Skyscraper. Salty wind pressed against my face as we pushed further and faster until, finally, Ule slowed the boat down and pointed north. Founded in 2018, The Blue Latitudes Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. 15.8k Followers, 975 Following, 1,340 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Blue Latitudes Foundation (@bluelatitudesfoundation) Launched in 2019, the DTG3 model is the perfect fit for our research needs. While the BLF team relishes every opportunity to gear up for a SCUBA dive, ROVs can remain in the water longer than a human diver, safely expanding the time available for underwater surveys, and helping to eliminate human error. 4 Out of the Blue Summary for Policymakers Key messages and findings The conservation and restoration of seagrasses can help countries achieve multiple international commitments, contributing ⦠In particular, observations in the Gulf of Mexico revealed a strong positive correlation between the amount of oil platforms, growing since the 1950s, and commercial fish catches in the region- a critical point here was the use of static gear methods of fishing (e.g., lines and hooks) vs. trawl nets. Suddenly, when he was about 50 meters away, Tao raised his right arms straight into the air. Founded by Amber Sparks and Emily Hazelwood, Blue Latitudes is an environmental consultancy which works closely with industry, particularly within the oil and gas sector, to design ⦠Additionally, the areas around the platforms became popular places of recreational and sport fishing which significantly contributed to the total catch volumes. Given the human demand for ocean resources, we aim to broaden the dialog on traditional ocean conservation practices to find ways to use our oceans without using them up! Each day, we learned a little more about them, their relationship with each other and their relationship with us. Although this law has various flaws that need to be addressed, we can confidently make assumptions as to where California should start. Those are offshore oil platforms that, at their peak, supplied California with thousands of barrels of oil, but today are in their twilight years of production and facing eventual removal, or decommissioning. When utilizing âauto-depthâ, the ROV is set to fly at a consistent depth in the water column. Follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram) and on our website to stay up to date with our latest ROV adventures! D/Y Cabrillo / Huntington Beach, CA March 18, 2021 On March 18th, 2021, The International SeaKeepers Society assisted the Blue Latitudes Foundation aboard the DISCOVERY Yacht Cabrillo; a 38â Black Cove Yacht. Ule yelled a Tongan command and his deckhand, Tao, took off swimming into the morning surf. It boils down to 3 numbers: 55, 65, and 85 percent. Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before (United States), or Into the Blue: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before (Australia), is a travel book by Tony Horwitz, ⦠This was intended to incentivize oil companies to implement RtR sooner rather than later. And maintain direction while completing a transect is a pre-determined path at which data collection.... 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