Trash or habitat? Fish assemblages on offshore oilfield seafloor debris in the Santa Barbara Channel, California

We assessed the significance of offshore oilfield debris as fish habitat in central and southern California using video taken from a remotely operated vehicle to enumerate the fish assemblages and to measure debris characteristics. Among 33 species (belonging to 9 families) identified in four regions (from Pt. Conception to Los Angeles), rockfish (genus Sebastes ) made up approximately 78%. Total fish abundance varied by region, with greater numbers present in the west than in the east. In comparing abundance of fish per debris item among regions, two rockfish species showed no spatial differences, one species was significantly more abundant in the western region and one had the highest abundance in the central region. Water depth, vertical profile, shelter availability, and item volume may be used to predict presence/absence or abundance of different species of rockfish, but none of these characteristics was consistently applicable to all species.