Do you think that fish farming would be a good use for idle oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico?

Oil Platforms May Be Used for Fish Farms

There are plans backed by the Bush administration to use many Gulf of Mexico oil and natural gas platforms as deep-sea fish farms raising a variety of fish. Deep sea farming is already carried out off some countries in Asia. Regulations are to be simplified. The alternatives for idle platforms are to bring them ashore or to turn them into artificial reefs.

There are risks involved. Fish have escaped from experimental pens damaged in storms. Fish pests and diseases could be spread to wild fish (for example Farm sea lice plague wild salmon). Any chemicals used would end up in the open ocean. Proponents of the scheme believe that the oceans currents would dilute the pollution so that it would not be a problem.

China's Giant Pandas Get Broadband

Digital technology is to be used at the Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve, China, to help researchers study and protect the pandas real-time, around the clock. Currently 76 of the region's 1,000 giant pandas live within the reserve. There are believed to be a total of 1,590 in the wild and 161 in captive breeding programs worldwide.

New Case of Wasting Disease in N.Y. Deer

A second captive white-tailed deer in central New York has been found to have chronic wasting disease. The disease is deadly to some deer and elk species but is not thought to spread to humans or other animals. Herds that have potentially been in contact with the animals have been quarantined. The disease has now been found in 12 states and in parts of Canada.

Do you think that fish farming would be a good use for idle oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico?