Across-Shelf Larval, Postlarval, and Juvenile Fish Collected at Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms and a Coastal Rock Jetty West of the Mississippi River Delta

摘要

This study was prepared under contract between the Minerals Management Service and the Coastal Fisheries Institute, Louisiana State University. The report discusses the larval and juvenile fish assemblages of three oil and gas platforms (1995-1997) and a coastal rock jetty (1997) off the Louisiana coast. Basic biological information of the assemblages is discussed, such as larval, postlarval, and juvenile taxonomy, seasonally, lunar periodicity, distribution (vertical and across shelf), and relative abundance. The role that oil and gas platforms (hard substrate) may play as nursery/recruitment grounds and/or refugia for postlarval and juvenile fish, which could contribute to fish production, is discussed.