Could Off-Shore Oil Rigs Actually Benefit Underwater Life?
Aired April 20, 2000 – 8:32 p.m. ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. JIM MORET, CNN ANCHOR: In environmental news, a study released today by the global research group Reef Check says 10 percent of the world’s coral reefs have died since 1997 due to overfishing, global warming, and pollution. Off-shore oil rigs have been a contentious environmental issue in California for decades. Now some groups say they actually benefit the underwater community. Here’s CNN’s Jim Hill. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JIM HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Off-shore oil rigs have dotted the California coast for decades, a blend of energy source and eyesore. But as the platforms drilled for crude, something beautiful was happening on the steel framework that anchored them. With undersea filmmaker David Brown, we photographed columns encrusted with colorful sea anemones, starfish, and other invertebrates. DAVID BROWN, UNDERSEA FILMMAKER: I am always in awe of natu
