types of animals not only need shallow, warm and sunlighted 

 waters, but require waters of salinities less than 36.0 ppt 

 (oceanic) . The surface waters of the Gulf are less saline than 

 the deeper waters . 



Small fishes are attracted to the platforms for two 

 important reasons : to initially feed on the sea life attached 

 and to hide from larger prey. Larger fishes follow 

 the smaller individuals in search of food and therefore 

 tend to concentrate around the platforms. 



The large concentrations of fishes that gather at the 

 "artificial reef" sites also include many species that were 

 unknown in Gulf waters before the platforms were built. This 

 is not to say these species were not there before, only that 

 the presence of "artificial reefs" concentrates the fishes 

 that were before scattered over a larger area. Many of 

 these fishes are sport fish , including resident fishes (living 

 year-round in the vicinity of platforms) and seasonal mi- 

 grants C coming in with warmer weather) . Resident fishes 

 include the following: groupers, red snapper, trigger fish, 

 Atlantic spadefish, sea basses and pompanos . Seasonal mi- 

 grants include Spanish and king mackerel, tarpon, ladyfish 

 and several species of jack, bluefish and cobia. Marlin, 

 sailfish, wahoo , tunas, sharks, skates and rays are also 

 found (U.S. Department of the Interior, 1972). 



Conflicts arise between commercial and sport fishermen 

 and many commercial fishermen feel that sport fishermen 



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