Gulf of America’s Living Balance
As National Go Fishing Day approaches on June 18, 2025, millions of Americans will head to their favorite fishing spots. For more than 2.5 million anglers, that destination is the Gulf of America, where oil and gas platforms and artificial reefs—created through the Rigs-to-Reefs program—provide some of the richest fishing habitats in the country.
This program, a partnership between coastal states, the offshore energy industry, and federal agencies like the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), transforms retired energy structures into permanent homes for marine life. A typical eightleg platform supports 12,000 to 14,000 fish, and a four-leg structure can provide habitat across several acres. These structures are examples of how energy production and environmental stewardship can thrive together.
